( Fitful tosses note cards in The Bag. The hand writing is horrible, worse then chicken scratch, and all you can read is the title on the first one. The Secret of When Hylaarr and Osset're Find Out Harry/Saith is Their Son. Looking over her shoulder and glancing around suspiciously she quickly ties it shut and throws it in a lock box and spins the combination to random numbers. Laughing evilly she puts it in a waterproof crate and wraps heavy chains around it before attaching an anchor to it as well. Then, with some effort as its heavy now, she lifts it and pushes it overboard. The waves swallow it without a sound and all that can be heard is the evil cackles of the insane author. Pleased she turns the boat towards shore, some three days away, and casually puts a hand in her pocket. In horror she takes out a forgotten note card and the writing on this one is legible. Note to self: Harry won't reveal he's their son until 5th year at the latest. With a gasp Fitful tears it up into a million pieces then eats them swallowing hastily. Still nervous, she heads home in a different direction adding five days to her journey.)
Everyone say thanks to Oirarana who has offered to tackle this beast and is now my Beta!! Oirarana gets chocolate and kisses and a free ticket to... WHAT were did that ticket go?(Fitful searches frantically but finds only a part of ripped ticket with Scantily Clad, and Rippling Pectorals in unfinished sentences.) Err... yeah. LOTS of chocolate for Oirarana!!
Anyway also thanks to Critters who has let me bounce ideas off her and beg for words when their stuck on the tip of my tongue despite her own novel in process and a bratling being a royal pest 24/7. Oh yeah, Critters gets chocolate too.
Oh all the info is true, taken from Wikipedia, and is NOT mine though it is my favorite game!! Osset're is lying about the whole thing. Or he would be if he were real and not a character in a fanfiction.
As it is here you go. You've been patient and now indulge.
October 26th
Early Afternoon.
The single black round stone hesitated above the square jade surface before setting down with a distinctive snap. The white stone beside it glowed and the surface blurred before turning black. Osset're smirked at his mate and moved a white stone without even looking at the board. The black stone Hylaarr had just put down immediately glowed before turning white along with three others. Osset're grinned showing teeth and motioned for his mate to move again.
Harry watched in fascination as the game progressed. It had started out with four stones placed on the jade marble in a square, black and white alternating. Hylaarr had moved first as apparently black was supposed to do. His added stone had been placed in front of a white one, trapping it between his two black stones and captured it turning it black. Osset're was clearly the master here and had been quick to follow. It was only a matter of minutes before the jade board was covered in black and white stones, white clearly winning as more white stones were apparent and had moved into corners with no way of removing them.
"What is this, Osset're?" Harry finally dared to ask. He hoped it wasn't something he should be familiar with but his curiosity was too great to hold back.
Osset're grinned at him. "Albh and Alfr, or Elves and Dwarves if you prefer the mortal terminology."
Hylaarr snorted. "It's called Reversi. Invented in the 1880s by Lewis Waterman and John Mollett. It was based on the game 'Go Bang' or the ancient Japanese strategy game 'Go'. The modern rules originated in Japan in the 1970s. The game was renamed Othello, after the Shakespearean play Othello, the Moor of Venice and marked by James R. Becker who also coined the tagline 'A Minute to Learn... A Lifetime to Master'." He studied the board before moving. The black stone he laid down captured three white ones and which glowed and turned black.
Osset're hissed. "Mortals invented it, my ass! This is an ancient game created millions of years before this realm ever came into existence. It is a story of the separation of the old race into two warring factions who could not decide together which to follow, light or dark and finally split to form different races entirely that to this day remain locked in eternal war!" He said this quite dramatically and waited as if for applause when finished. Upon receiving none Osset're sniffed at his mate who was studying the board. "Mortals merely stole the idea and adapted it to the mundane unpopular existence it holds today." His eyes narrowed at his mate who appeared to be ignoring him. "Hylaarr is just upset because he never wins."
Hylaarr snorted again. "I am not fond of this game. Chess is more strategically sound." He placed a black stone on the board.
Osset're squeaked in horror and threw the white stone he held at Hylaarr's head. Hylaarr moved a bit to avoid it and smirked at his mate. Osset're hissed at him and Harry couldn't help the laugh that escaped.
Both vampires turned to smile at Harry before Hylaarr attacked his mate and upset the game board, the jade falling to clatter to the marble floor and the stones falling to scatter in all directions. Hylaarr had Osset're pinned to the floor before he could even sputter and, holding him down, proceeded to tickle him into submission. Osset're's laughter rang out like wind-chimes throughout the room and Harry couldn't stop his grin. They were such good company! Much better than the Dursleys.
The thought of the Dursleys had his mood darkening. However much he did or did not want to be here the reality was that this was a dream. It hurt to acknowledge that but it was necessary. He was beginning to forget that after only half a day of basking in the two vampire's attention. He had to remember that as soon as he recovered from that spell he would wake up. He would be back at the Dursleys and there would be hell to pay for the many horrors that happened the day before.
Magic. The Dursleys knew he had magic. They had been aware all these years and beat him for it because he wasn't a mage and it was against the law for him to use it. Harry swallowed and frowned, he found he was angry. Not because of the abuse, no he knew he deserved that, but because they hadn't told him! How could they not tell him! If he had known he wouldn't have... But he wasn't sure. Despite that they obviously hated magic and that Harry had it when he wasn't supposed to must make it that hatred all the stronger. Not to mention they hated his parents for an unknown reason. Perhaps it was because they were thieves and liars and drank too much too often. Or perhaps that wasn't true? Harry was never sure what to believe when it came to the Dursleys.
Whatever was true, they had loved him. They had loved him and protected him from a dark mage and died for it. What had the tall mage said? Oh yes. A prophesy. The dark mage had wanted to kill him because of a prophesy that said he would kill him. Harry swallowed with difficulty; a prophesy was a telling of the future. Harry knew this because Dudley had once watched a movie with something like that in it before Petunia had seen it and become horrified of the magic in it and turned it off.
How horrible. It had been foretold he would kill the dark mage. That he would kill. Harry stopped breathing. Killing was bad. It was the most horrible thing anyone could ever do. The Dursleys had taught him that. He remembered many 'lessons' in that and know he knew why. It couldn't be possible. He wasn't supposed to kill anyone! He couldn't. He...
"Harry." Hylaarr's voice had him looking his way in acknowledgment but he didn't really see him. The vampire lord knelt in front of him and took his face gently in his hands. "Harry breathe." Realizing he wasn't he took a deep breath and breathed out harshly. Then to escape the worried duel-colored eyes he buried his face in the hollow beneath Hylaarr chin.
He most definitely deserved everything the Dursley's had done to him. He deserved anything they would do.
That thought was foremost in is mind. He breathed in Hylaarr's scent, absently taking comfort from the familiar source.
Hylaarr and Osset're could never find out about the Dursleys.
He had made this vow before but somehow it was more important now. Osset're had come around to hug him from behind. He didn't even acknowledge that.
Somehow he would have to go back.
That was easily taken care of. He merely would have to wake up. The trick was to make sure the vampires didn't stop him.
He would have to stop using magic.
That meant at all. Not healing, not tricks, not anything. Even if it meant the abuse might be discovered. Harry frowned. He wasn't sure about that. Which was more important?
"Harry," said Hylaarr quietly, disturbing his thoughts. "Tell us about your parents." What? Harry was startled. He didn't know anything about his parents. What could he tell? Should he lie? He might get caught in one of those.
"They loved me." He whispered softly. Slowly. It was impossible to make anything up. The truth of their death was to fresh. To raw. It made his skin itch and heart hurt and eyes feel like he's been crying even though they were dry.
"When they died, they did everything they could to protect me. They died protecting me." His breath hitched.
"It wasn't your fault, child." Yes it was. Hylaarr whispered in his ear. "They did what any parent would do. Do not ever blame yourself." That felt like an order and Harry struggled against it. They didn't know. Harry had lied and they didn't know the truth. What would they think if they did. Would they hate him? Would they blame him? Would they be so quick to offer their love if they knew?
"Harry, child." Osset're brushed his hair behind his ear. It was long enough to do that but Harry had never dared because of the scars. "We know you loved your parents. But if we ask you something will you tell us the truth?"
Harry froze before relaxing quickly. "Yes." No.
Hylaarr spoke next. "Did they ever hurt you? Perhaps as a punishment? Taking away food for instance." Harry could here it in his voice. He spoke as if he was certain they had. Apparently his story of the orphanage hadn't held up under Kian's skilled eye. Harry was tired. Tired of hiding, of defending his punishments, and of everyone not understanding. The little whisper told him that he had never explained but he whispered back that he wasn't allowed to.
"I don't remember." He knew they would know he was lying. It was painfully obvious. But he just couldn't deal with it now. Perhaps they would let it go for the time being. He could come up with a convincing story later.
Hylaarr sighed. Harry felt the rise and fall of his chest and nearly felt the disappointment seep from Hylaarr into him. That hurt and he pulled away, out of their loose embrace. Standing he looked at the game pieced still strewn across the floor. Forcing a bright smile he looked at Osset're ignoring the concerned and frustrated look on his face.
"Will you teach me, Osset're?" It was the name that did it. Osset're brightened at it and Harry sighed in relief. He couldn't believe how such a simple thing as a name could so affect the vampires.
Osset're brushed aside the past few minutes and smiled secretly at Harry. "Of course I will, Harry. I know you will love it! Hylaarr is just a snob." With a wave of his hand he collected the fallen stones and the jade square. The pieces neatly aligned themselves in to piles on either side and four went to the middle to form a black and white square.
Harry grinned back, both at the magic and Osset're's comment. Slyly he looked at Hylaarr out the corner of his eye. "Prat is a good word."
Osset're's eyes widened and a wicked light lit his eyes. "I had forgotten that one." He smirked at his mate who narrowed his eyes at the elf warningly. Osset're ignored him. "Hylaarr is quite the prat." His accent distorted the English and made Harry giggle. Hylaarr sniffed and pretended to ignore them.
After Osset're had explained the rules in a rather authoritative way and the game had started Harry heard Hylaarr mutter, "Poncy git."
Osset're heard it as well because he glared at his mate before making a show of ignoring him. Harry laughed at them and but down a black stone on the jade board.
October 26th
Afternoon.
Osset're loved Harry. He had known it from the first moment he saw him. He had watched the small child shaking and trembling and sobbing in terrible grief and the world had fallen away. In that moment there was only darkness and Hylaarr and Harry. And he had known he loved him more than his life, more than his eternity.
Harry was very quiet. He would hold still quite often, like a mouse, as if he were still long enough everyone would forget and he could disappear and life would go on without him. His eyes looked down more often than not, in respect, in timidity, in avoidance...
When he spoke it was almost apologetically. His voice was quiet, like a whisper, like the breeze, like the breathing of the world when it was night and everything slept.
He shied away from touches, flinched at sudden movements.
He watched everything, and listened to every word, and saw more in a single movement then Osset're could ever read in an entire book, though admittedly Osset're hated books and avoided reading them unless they had spells, or were about magic, or were Japanese, or were a romance because Osset're had a soft spot for a good romance...
He lied often. Osset're could tell because Harry always took a deep breath before each lie as if bracing himself for the reaction to it and he would hold still and his eyes would stare at you, watching you for any sign of anger, as if he could tell before he went to far in the lie and change it. Or he would look down and doggedly plod on, simply ignoring the fact that anyone was listening to the lie although you knew he knew that the person he was telling it to was listening avidly...
He acted as if no one had ever or could ever love him and the idea was so absurd it was laughable in the hysterical I'm-going insane-and-so-is-everyone-else 'Do you want to come along?' kind of way.
He was shocked at anything given to him, or anything done for him, or any positive emotion directed to him, or by the fact that he had magic as if there wasn't a way in the entire realms that he could have been given that gift.
Despite the horrible, obviously-result-of-abuse, evidence in his behavior Osset're loved all of this.
Loved every bit of anything that made this child into the person he was now. Even if he hated the abuse with the passion he reserved for hating Daemons, and the color brown, and fish, and the muck in the bottom of the sink after you washed the dishes. Oh, and politicians, and Dwarves, and hypocrites, and reporters, and macaroni and cheese. Not to mention those shrieking alarm clocks Hylaarr was so fond of, and his mother when she was lecturing him for his arrogance when she had no right as she was by far more arrogant than him. Oh, and evil bitch sorceresses that tried to steal his mate. Oh yes. He hated the abuse and abusers far more than all that.
He loved every odd quirk of this child's personality, character, mind, and soul.
He loved Harry.
He loved it when Harry laughed; a sound like ferrets laughing and birds chuckling and leaves falling and waterfalls. He loved it when he smiled; brilliant as a thousand stars and bumbling fireflies and willow the wisps. He loved the boy's eyes; like the heart of jade or the clashing of emeralds or the dark grass at the base of evergreens or basil.
He loved it most when the child said his name. Nothing could compare. Unless he were to call him Papa, or Pater, or Pappi, or Baba, or Abbah. Or even Da.
Finding this child was like finding a lily among the stars. Harry was beautiful and alien in comparison to himself. All dark and quiet like Osset're was not. He was like a secret and lie. Something you keep and never tell anyone about. He was the truth shouted for all the realms to hear. Osset're could barely restrain himself from doing just that and announcing to the Gods that this child was his. He was magic; dark and enthralling; bright and precious. Osset're could feel the child bewitching him, glittering like water in the desert. He was a necromancer's song and a fairy's dust.
And Osset're was completely taken with him. In only a few moments a single child had taken up residence in his heart beside his mate and lifebonded and he knew if he had lost him it would have broken him completely.
And if Hylaarr had killed the child as he originally planned Osset're knew he would have died as well. That very fact alone is what held his tongue and forced him not to protest his mate's intentions. He had spitefully thought if Hylaarr, in his obsessive paranoia had killed an innocent and helpless child and his mate died as well, from heartbreak and shock and the thrice damned stubbornness he was always harping on about, it would serve him right...
But secretly he had known Hylaarr couldn't kill the child. How he knew he didn't question. Perhaps it was the same thing that told him to step in front of a deadly curse just because it would make his lifebonded finally Embrace him. Perhaps it was his magic. Perhaps he had a touch of the Sight along with everything else.
Whatever it was it was Osset're was proven right. Hylaarr couldn't kill a defenseless child. Osset're knew his mate. Hylaarr had argued himself into finding a reason to spare the boy. It was no small relief that the child had proven to be no threat and Osset're breathed a prayer to the Gods that he never was. Even if it never proved serious Hylaarr would gloat endlessly about the fact that he had been right.
Osset're had trembled when those green eyes met his. The child had been full of grief and pain and a wailing of despair. And he had met his eyes and Osset're had seen love. The child had loved him, immediately, before he had done anything. And Osset're Li'essha Kiinn Prince of the Elven, once the Heir Apparent to the throne of The Seven Realms and The Light Realms, now Consort to The Crescent Clan and The Blood Lands and mate and lifebonded to Hylaarr Silvereyes Moonrun Somus Kiinn, had been humbled.
He had opened his arms and taken the child in them and promised, in elven and silently to himself, that he would keep the child safe. His child...his son. And that hollow in his heart that had been there for eight years had been filled. When his mate had held the boy and they had rocked him and Hylaarr had whispered that it would be okay he had known that the child was theirs. They would keep him. Damn anyone to the little hells should they dare take him away.
When Hylaarr had returned from his chat with Seren, and had told him that the boy was destined to take his place as Lord, he had wanted to crow in triumph. He had restrained himself, content that he could gloat later. He had curled up with his mate and had just watched the child sleep. He had made fantastic plans about adoption and teaching him magic and finally having someone to gang up on Hylaarr with.
But when the child awoke his plans faded in wake of the boy's need. He had moaned in pain and Osset're's heart had twisted. His fingers ran through wild hair and fell away in shock when the child jerked and backed away to the far edge of the bed, and had held himself so still for the longest time.
Hylaarr had gripped his right wrist tightly between them where the child couldn't see. Osset're hadn't moved but he had wanted to.
His name was Harry. A part of Osset're whispered that that wasn't right but he had pushed it away. Now was crucial. He had to prove to his mate the child was no threat. He would do anything to do so.
Harry had smelled of fear, worry and fear and pain and shock, and of longing and disappointment. Osset're couldn't help but reassure him. He was safe. He would be safe as long as Osset're still drew breath and had magic and could make it so.
There had been no reaction to their names. Osset're had breathed in relief and felt his mate relax ever so slightly. The boy had reacted to the mention of magic. Hylaarr had relaxed further when faced with the boy's fright. Poor Harry. Poor child. It was obvious he had been exposed to magic but he feared it. Feared to use it and feared the consequences of doing so. Why? Who had hurt him? Who would dare.
Harry had magic. They had known that, the block he had put on him then was still there. Hylaarr hadn't said he could take it off yet. And as angry as he had been to learn of the attack and the spell he had been proud of his... of Harry for using it to protect himself. Oh the boy had lied about most of it. That had been obvious. Any vampire would have been able to tell, but the truth had been enough to raise hackles and garner sympathy.
Osset're had moved towards him and he had flinched. That had hurt. He wouldn't hurt him, never any child, but more never Harry.
Hylaarr had moved closer and brought up what they had been waiting for, longing to know. Osset're had been tense and held his breath in fear . But it had proven unfounded. Harry's parents had died and he had run away from an orphanage. An orphanage. Humans were so horrible, they put children in strange houses with a million others and no one to really care for them, and most just stayed until full grown. It was all he could do to prevent himself from hissing his rage. Hylaarr touched Harry's shoulder, ignoring his flinch even though Osset're couldn't help but freeze at it.
When Osset're hadn't been able to restrain himself he had moved again and asked. "Let us adopt you?" The poor child had been blown away.
"I-I'm not anything!" Harry had said. It had broken Osset're's heart.
Harry had jerked away and protested and finally grown silent and huddled in on himself and started to cry. Osset're hadn't been able to stop himself and luckily, for his mate, Hylaarr hadn't stopped him either. Again they had held the child as he cried. And he had felt his mate's caution and fears and paranoia slip away.
But mentioning vampires was a mistake. He had been too hasty. He should have let his mate handle it.
Harry hated vampires.
Or so he had said. It didn't ring quiet true but then most everything the boy said was a muck of lies and truth. He had been afraid and they had hesitated to push. His parents had been killed by vampires. They would have to be very careful with this child.
But when he had collapsed into tears again nothing could have stop them from comforting him. Once he was asleep Hylaarr had pulled them up to the head of them bed, Harry positioned snugly in between them and they had slept. It had been the best night of sleep he had gotten in quite a long time. His heart was whole and he refused to question it.
Hylaarr had pulled Osset're out of bed and to the kitchens when they woke up this morning. Frantic to get back to the child he had gone a little crazy and ordered the vampires to add a little of everything that had been prepared and then found some of his personal favorites and some of Hylaarr's and had them cooked and added them as well. Hylaarr had been amused but when they had everything ready he had ordered him to stop and proceeded to snog him breathless for a good fifteen minutes before Osset're was able to skitter away. Back to Harry.
Admittedly he had needed that. Damned Dominant's always knew.
The child acted as if he had never had toast before. Hylaarr's scent was of rage and it dawned on Osset're that maybe he hadn't. When the child's magic had flared beneath the bindings and dark magic had raised it's ugly face and he had clutched his head and the smell of pain had filled the room and nearly overwhelmed the two vampires, Osset're had barely been able to force it back and take the pain away. The child was frightfully powerful. Osset're had been, still was, very worried; he would never be as powerful as Osset're but he would be quite close. He really ought to be turned. When he was old enough to take a mate it would help tremendously in controlling it.
The poor child had apologized. Osset're could feel his mate longing to rip someone apart. Then the boy had realized how close he was to him and jerked away and fell off the bed. If he hadn't been so worried, if it hadn't had been because of fear, if it hadn't had been Harry he would have laughed. The boy looked so bewildered to find himself so far down.
When Hylaarr gave the blood oath the boy had been nearly as astonished as Osset're and that was without knowing what it meant. Osset're knew well though, it meant if any harm came to the child, by Hylaarr or the hand of anyone Hylaarr called kin Hylaarr and Osset're would feel it threefold.
That Hylaarr could change his mind so quickly was one of the reasons Osset're loved him. His mate was quick to admit his mistakes and correct them, when he decided to do something it was done with the utmost of his ability. That Hylaarr could go so quickly from plans to kill a child who might prove a threat to his mate to such a vowing such a formal oath with what could be rather dire consequences was not only stunning but amusing as well.
When Kian came Osset're took advantage of the boy's distraction. He had been worried about meeting another vampire, a healer, and it had shown in his scent. He blew hot and cold between worry and panic and forced calm and then panic again. Osset're had distracted him with an orange. The boy didn't know what to do with it, but Osset're helped him, showing him how to peel it and separate the parts. When he took his first bite Osset're could taste his wonder and soon after the scent of hatred from the vampire's in the room. Hylaarr and Kian had been watching and both had been enraged.
Osset're had been beyond rage. Anger had licked at his control like a Fury. Indeed images of Furies made of fire had danced in the air. He had been careful to keep them hidden from Harry.
Hylaarr had kept up a steady chatter with Kian in mindspeach the entire time she looked the boy over. Osset're hadn't been able to object, he was so worried about the boy. He had been relieved when she finally gave him a potion, somehow Osset're had gotten close to the boy without him protesting. Being so close Osset're could smell it when the pain came back, despite his magic's healing.
When Hylaarr had seen Kian out he had smelled Hylaarr's determination. His mate had approached the bed with a distinctly Dominant air and Osset're had tensed involuntarily. He knew Hylaarr and what he had been about to do. A part of him, the submissive part that acknowledged Harry as his, was relieved but another part of had wanted to scream at Hylaarr. Harry was just a child. An abused child. A human child. He wouldn't react well to being forced to submit.
But he had been wrong. Again.
Hylaarr had grinned at Harry and teased him about the taste of the potion. Osset're had relaxed a bit and helped with a laugh. It was an old joke between them.
"Things always taste better when someone feeds you." Harry had blinked in bemusement.
Then it had come, the single most important aspect of being a submissive. Trust.
"May I feed you, Harry?" Hylaarr had asked if Harry could trust him.
They both had known what he would say but it didn't stop them from hoping. Watching as the child closed his eyes Osset're had held his breath.
At the very least the child had been polite in his refusal.
But when poor Harry, the poor child, and dropped his eyes and just waited Osset're had wanted to cry. He knew what was coming next and every inch of him disapproved.
"Harry," A command. "Harry, child, I'm afraid you have no choice." Harry's eyes had abruptly snapped open as Hylaarr started forward. He had jerked back and found himself against Osset're whose arms came around him and began whispering in his ear.
"It's alright, child, I have you. It will be okay." We would never hurt you child, you are safe. The boy had been panicked and Osset're had felt every breath that expelled itself harshly from his chest and then was sucked back in a desperate attempt to get enough air.
"Breathe, Harry. In and out. You are safe. We will not hurt you."
And Harry had reacted to those orders, the first time he was forced to submit, far better than Osset're ever had. He had been wrong. Harry was a Submissive. It was radical and horrible and was obviously the result of abuse. Poor child. Poor mortal child.
He loved the way Harry smelled, of saplings, and dewdrops, and summertime moonlight.
Harry was the sweetest child Osset're had ever met. Polite, respectful even as a human mortal and desperately starved for positive affection.
But he was a Submissive.
Osset're shuddered to think of how that had developed. Child abuse was unheard of among the elven. The average elven pair was considered god-touched to conceive once a decade. Children were infinitely precious and jealously guarded. Indeed an elfling wasn't considered capable of fending for themselves until they had seen a least 50 Springs. The young elfling Osset're had been horrified and heartbroken and enraged and determined to help fix it when he had learned how short the human lifespan actually was.
Osset're had been born into the elven royal line. Indeed his mother was the elven queen. Not just the elven queen but Queen of The Seven Realms and The Light Realm and The Willow Forest.
As an elven prince, one of many in direct line for the throne, Osset're had led a quiet sheltered life hidden in the heart of the palace. Although his mother birthed a dozen elflings in her 400 years on the throne, the elder were full grown, and annoyingly haughty about their lofty age and experience and supposed wisdom, and the younger too small to be considered company.
Osset're had been raised by servants and teachers and once it had become know he was an adept level mage, the best Masters as well. He had been buried under books, and lectures, and lessons, and apprenticed to Master after Master, each one obsessively determined to teach 'the princeling' every drop of knowledge they had.
Osset're had learned everything they offered and much they didn't. He had soaked in knowledge greedily sure it was only his right to learn it. He had been powerful and justifiably arrogant.
By the time Osset're was twenty he was hailed a prodigy by the Seven Realms and every member of the Seven Realms knew his name. His status had been raised to Heir Apparent, by-passing the eight older siblings he had along with his every powerful relation to the royal line still living. The elven race was built on magic power. Those who had magic were numerous. Those who had it in spades were rare.
Whenever an elfling with abnormal power turned up they were hurriedly paired off with another powerful elfling and encouraged to start a line of magic wielding littles. The royal line had started that way thousands of years ago when the powerful potential heirs started turning up stupid and unhealthy and ugly and irritating due to inbreeding. It was soon put to right when it started pairing its children with other powerful elven lines. Now it was an unspoken law that only every third generation was to marry within The Light Realm.
When Osset're was appointed Heir Apparent he was called to appear before the throne. The Queen and her advisors, and his elder siblings and their mates, and the other Realm's Lords and Ladies, and well anyone who was powerful enough had been there. He, of course, had performed the ritual to perfection.
As well as learning all of his Master's lessons in magic he had absorbed the other lessons with envious ease. There hadn't been a single elf who spoke against the ritual.
His mother had disapproved. She never said anything to that effect but Osset're had learned to read people. His magic happily told him what he couldn't discern for himself.
She disapproved of his arrogance.
It was the fifth time in his life he had even seen his mother, Smaal're Li'essha. Queen of the Seven Elven Realms, Queen of the Light Realm, called the Dragonfly Queen. Osset're had become known as the Firefly Prince soon after that, a name that his siblings teased him about to this day.
From that day on Osset're was more accessible to the public but even more heavily guarded. He had loudly complained about that as he maintained he could fend for himself against any attack and he was one of the most powerful mages in The Seven Realms and he was loved by all. No one would dare.
But that precaution was soon proven justified as once the Realms heard how powerful the future heir to the elven throne was many attempts were made to see to it he didn't reach the full age mark. Assassination plots abounded and Osset're had been forced to grow up a little more. He could recall the moments when that happened.
When he had been captured by Addith'il Vi'eena and tortured until he agreed to pair with her and give her mage elflings. When a rival mage had held his 13 year old sister over the heart of the forest and dueled him, breaking his heart every time he threatened to drop her and did drop her and caught her again only to continue the duel. When a dark sorcerer had attacked him with Daemons; snarling bits of shadow and pain and death, which ate at his magic's light and poisoned the air and killed his best friend, Saedor'us. When the Dwarves had attacked the palace and succeeded in killing nearly two hundred full grown elven and the vicious battle had left the walls dripping with blood and his siblings numb with shock and his mother finally grateful for his mage gift and skill in wielding it.
Magic wielders of every order and practice flocked to meet him. Mages and Sorcerers and Magicians; Necromancers and Elementals. The God-Touched and even the odd wizard or two. Some just came to gawk at the powerful elfling, and Osset're had let them, used to having his arrogance and vanity and beauty on display. Whenever they become too obsessive and annoying him he simply flexed his magic and sent them away.
Images of their worst fears had been easy to pull out of their unguarded minds and paraded before their eyes. He wasn't fond of intruding in other minds after that though. People's thoughts were just too ordered, or chaotic, or simply stupid, or shallow, or disgusting enough to make him sick up after viewing. and he had lost his taste for it quite soon and to this day refused unless it was dire emergency.
Others came to teach and learn and those he greeted warmly and welcome them perhaps too trustingly. Experience and years taught him to be wary. He made even more progress in his studies and lost a bit of his optimism and continued to mature.
By age 36 he had completed his studies. Every master proclaimed they could teach him nothing further and left him to his mother's whims. As it happened she felt him capable of braving The Human Realms. Or so she said.
"Prince Osset're." Violet eyes, the same color as his, seemed so cold from her high perch on the throne.
" We require your unique expertise.The half-blood Malic Drr'Vaiise refuses to present himself. You will retrieve him."
Unacknowledged was the challenge and smug certainty he would flee home, his arrogant countenance much curtailed and his ego painfully deflated and his tail tucked between his legs like a dog. He had sneered disdainfully at the image. He had been determined to prove her wrong.
The Human Realm was dull. The colors seemed muted and the sound struggled to be heard as if the entire world was underwater. Osset're had tried to remain optimistic but the spoiled prince him sneered at everything. The dirt was heavy, the smells harsh, the light unattractive in it's limited hues. He had blanched at his first sight of a magicless, mortal human.
The tall man had appeared full grown. Indeed he looked nearly a hundred summers at least but Osset're had learned to his astonishment he was merely 36. The same age Osset're had been at the time. Tilting his head back to stare at the human Osset're had to use magic to insure he wasn't lying. When it proved the human's words true he had told him hoping to impress or inspire an amusing reaction.
The human had reacted. He had laughed at him.
"Ha! Good joke, kid! You keep telling yourself that, though I don't think the ladies will believe it."
The rest of his visit hadn't gone as well as he had been hoping. He had been attacked and kidnapped by Drr'Vaiise and had escaped but been stranded in The Human Realms and then he had met Hylaarr who had been stubborn and refused to acknowledge the lifebond and he had had to chase him across half the Americas and still had to seduce him, after dozen failed attempts, before he would take him as his mate and then the vampire had had the nerve to refuse to turn him.
Too young he had said. Osset're snorted at the memory but then changed his mind. He had been dreadfully young. An elf at 36 looks no older than 13 to humans. Poor Hylaarr.
It had opened the mageling's eyes. He had realized how privileged he was to be Elven. In The Elven Realms he had the luxury of spending half a century maturing and enjoying his childhood. Humans didn't have that. Their world was too harsh, unforgiving, and sadly mundane. Any magic was hidden and horded jealously. There was no unity, no peace, no leisure. Humans lived fast.
Osset're privately thought they lived so fast they burnt themselves out before nature would have done so but held his tongue. Osset're soon learned that this realm had its appeal too. The pace was soon infectious, and as Osset're was naturally a vibrant, kinetic person he fit right in. Well. After applying a glamour to his hair.
Laughter drew his attention and Osset're smiled to see Harry laughing at his mate. The two were investigating Hylaarr's Garden, as Osset're liked to call it. His mate was insanely obsessed with growing things and smelly things and bits of the insides of things. The elven part of him approved of the growing things but personally Osset're didn't like it. He didn't like messes. Hylaarr gave a quiet instruction and Harry complied without hesitation. Osset're sighed.
The child was so submissive.
The Elven Realms were extensive and varied, and the Elves who inhabited them a beautiful and eternal race. They too followed along the lines of Dominant and Submissive relations but not as obsessively as the Crescent clan did. Before Hylaarr had turned Osset're he had had partners. Not many, as he had been quiet young, but a few. The Elven weren't as stuffy as humans in regards to carnal pleasures and encouraged their young to indulge quiet young.
He distinctly recalled being neither solely dominant nor submissive nor leaning towards one or the other as most did, but an aggressive lover when desire reigned as he was in everything. He liked pleasure and being pleasured and indulging in anything that took his fancy and pushing others to enjoy it as well, and then gloating about how he had been right all along, enjoying the consequences of said gloating.
But being Embraced changed all that. He could remember when he noticed it the first time; Hylaarr had been curled up on a pillow tucked into the hollow of the tree that made up the center of Osset're's private chambers in the heart of The Willow Forest and he had been lecturing Osset're on the proper conduct of a newly Embraced vampire and what his duties as Consort would entail and Osset're admittedly hadn't been paying attention because he had been watching his mates hands as they gestured and he had been fantasizing about those fingers on him and... hmm ... in him and Hylaarr had casually give an order to come here since he wasn't paying attention.
Up until then if Osset're hadn't seen the need to he wouldn't comply but with that order Osset're had seen Hylaarr as Dominant for the first time. He had felt the Submissive in him uncurl like a cat that had been sleeping for years.
He had felt an overwhelming, obsessive, need to obey.
It had toyed with his emotions. It had told him that if he didn't his Dominant would be angry/sad/disappointed. That he would punish him, and it wouldn't be something he would like and his mate had been lenient up until then and he had better learn to be submissive and Hylaarr might stop loving him if he didn't...
It was that last threat that did it.
He had known the adoration of millions, the admiration of his Masters, the distant affection of his sibling, but never love until Hylaarr. The life bond had become the most important thing in his life once it formed, he could feel Hylaarr through it; his love and his presence and his control, steady like the overgrown elven trees. The threat that it might be taken away was too much.
He had obeyed. He had obeyed the order and once he had, it left; the need, the fears, the power over him. And he hadn't been able to handle it. He had blown up at Hylaarr and spit and raged and literally attacked his mate with the pitiful control of a vampire hours turned and Hylaarr had slapped him and grabbed his hair and held him down and forced him to feed. That had been bloody and hadn't worked put well as it had made the young elven mage very mad.
What followed was the worst few months of his life as he adjusted to being a vampire submissive and all that entailed.
But when he had first seen Harry he had felt for the first time what it felt like to be Hylaarr. What he must have felt when Hylaarr first saw him. What it felt like to be Dominant.
Oh the need to dominate wasn't there, but the need to protect took it's place and perhaps was more effective. He felt as if the child was his and he would do anything the keep him safe. There were other needs. To make him happy. To teach him, to keep him. They all made him want to grab the child and hold tightly, never to let go.
He would have to be patient. Osset're was not a patient person but for this child he would be. He could wait, let Harry get to know them, trust them. Osset're was already assured of his love. When the child was ready then he would strike. He would capture Harry, as the child had stolen his heart, and never let go. Glancing at Hylaarr's expression and feeling his emotions through the bond told him that Hylaarr wouldn't object.
October 26th
Afternoon
Harry watched as Hylaarr carefully placed the seedling in the dirt before covering it gently. Then he dipped a rag in the bowl of water beside him and squeezed the water out letting it fall like rain into the little pot.
"Here. Now we add blood." Hylaarr glanced at Harry to be sure he was watching. Then he took a thin silver knife and cut his thumb. The cut was deep and blood welled and spilled out of the skin before running down to the tip and dripping off into the dark soil.
"Our blood, everyone's blood, has magic in it." Hylaarr's voice was quiet and hypnotic. It was the kind a professor would use and Harry wanted to smile but was too caught up in what he was saying. "Even if you can't use magic it is there. Those who can are blessed with more magic in their blood and specific channels that run parallel to the veins so magic can be directed." The blood continued to run from Hylaarr's thumb, dripping and falling like tears. " Certain plants, herbs, and fungi need the concentrated magic in the blood to flourish properly. This one is only ever found on the battlefield, days after the blood has soaked into the ground. It is an ill omen to some, but to many who know how to use it, it has intense healing properties."
Harry watched as Hylaarr pinched his thumb to add pressure and stop the blood flow before bringing it to his mouth and licking it clean. Presenting it to Harry he told him, "Watch." Blinking he watched the cut heal; closing, forming a scab, and finally disappearing all together. The joys of vampire healing.
" How, si-Hylaarr, does it heal so fast?" Harry had seen it before, many times, and had always wished he could do it. It would make life at the Dursleys so much easier. But punishments wouldn't be punishment came the whisper and Harry wanted to sigh.
"Vampires, and some other races, can heal very fast because there is so much magic in our blood stream. Humans have those magic channels, and very little actually running in the veins as so they heal at the rate their body allows." His eyes watched Harry very carefully before he picked up the little pot and placed it on the shelf. "Werewolves, for instance, can heal faster than a human but not as fast as most other races."
Harry blinked. "Blood heals!"
A part of him winced for blurting it out like that but he was so amazed. How could blood heal? The magic in blood obviously but did it only heal the person who had it or anyone? Harry bit his lips and looked down. That could really be helpful. If he healed then the punishments wouldn't show; the Dursleys would never get caught. For the first time a part of him ached to be a vampire.
He had never considered it before. It really hadn't occurred to him that anyone would ever want him to be one. But Hylaarr and Osset're did, they had said so when they offered to adopt him. He had been so caught up in everything else he hadn't considered it but now he did. If he were a vampire would everything be easier?
Hylaarr was smiling at him. "Yes child blood heals, vampire blood does a least." He looked at Harry carefully almost wistfully before he turned back to the shelves and picked up a single jar. "Not only does vampire blood heal, but so does the other bodily fluids each to a minor degree. Saliva is strongest just after blood."
Osset're was curled up in a corner of a divan reading. Hylaarr had whispered earlier that Osset're didn't like potions ingredients and he would be fine for a bit. Then he had he had dragged Harry over to the table and shelves set beside the bench Harry always appeared on and started telling him the names of each growing thing he had.
Most of the table resembled a garden of potted plants but the shelves held a myriad of jars, canisters, and bottles. Some were opaque and nothing could be seen of their contents, but others were glass and contained odd solutions with things floating in them, dried other things, and some of what looked to be parts and insides of creatures now long dead. All these were Hylaarr's potions ingredients and Harry had many fond memories of watching him plant seedling, harvest roots and leaves and flowers, while he sat and watched him unseen.
Now Osset're had looked up from his book, catching Harry's eye, and stared at his mate with a wicked smirk.
" Oh, I know, I know!" Hylaarr twitched and winced a bit. Osset're had adopted a high pitched voice like a child in school claiming to know the answer. "I know what bodily fluid comes next." There was a rather wicked laugh in his voice as well and Harry smothered a grin as he watched Osset're and Hylaarr. He didn't know what the elven vampire meant by that, but he got the impression that he was teasing his mate. Osset're must be feeling a bit left out, he usually did when he hadn't been able to bask in someone's attention in at least ten minutes.
Hylaarr's shoulders shook with laughter but he didn't turn around. "Please keep it to yourself Osset're. There is a child present."
Osset're pouted but Harry could tell he was delighted at Hylaarr's reaction. Muttering something about priggish humans he went back to his reading. Hylaarr ignored him and opened the small jar, pulling out three small blue seeds.
"This is called Night's Bane, Harry." Hylaarr picked up a small pot. "It is essential in..."
Hylaarr's voice suddenly faded and Harry felt a bit dizzy. Harry felt relief. Finally. He could feel the world spinning away just as it always did before he was woke up from these dreams. Finally he was going back. He should have felt only relief but disappointment and fear gripped him as well. He saw Hylaarr look at him sharply and reach for him but Harry backed away. It had better happen fast before, they caught on.
But something was wrong. He didn't fade away immediately as he usually did. His head hurt and he felt as if he were being squished and pulled and frozen in place at the same time. It never happened like this. Something was very wrong. He felt himself falling, gasping at the pain. His head hurt and his skin felt twisted and stretched and pulled apart. Moaning, he let Hylaarr take his weight dimly hearing the vampire lord shout for Osset're.
"Osset're what is happening!" Hylaarr demanded and Harry felt the cool touch of elven magic. The pain was worsening and he could feel the world trying to spin away.
"I-I don't..." Osset're gasped. "Drifting. Hylaarr he's trying to Drift." Hylaarr's hands tightened on Harry and the pain shrieked in his head. He needed to go. Why couldn't he?
"Harry, child, stop." It was an order, Hylaarr's voice was stern but worried. "You must not try to use your magic, Harry. It will only hurt you." What. Why? His thought scattered and he could feel darkness clawing at him but unable to reach him through a ... a wall built around him. A wall built around his magic. Whimpers escaped and finally a moan of pain.
"The block is holding but its hurting him." Osset're was nearly wailing. "Why would he try to leave, Hylaarr!"
Harry struggled to open his eyes. He could barely see through the pain. They had to let him go! They were keeping him here but it was time to wake up. He had to wake up. It hurt so much. Nearly as bad as that spell the mage had used but only in his head. He could feel the magic in his veins, coursing through him, trying to get out. But the wall was built all around him, like a second skin. It held him captive and it hurt.
"Please." He whispered. "Please I have to go." He could nearly feel the distress coming off Osset're in waves and Hylaarr's body tense with that plea. But they had to. It was only a dream. He'd come back. The Dursleys would see to that.
" No." That was Osset're. His voice was hard and final and an order like he had never heard coming from the Submissive before. "No." That was a wail, said like denial and fear and loss and grief. "Please no, Harry."
The pain increased and he felt a scream escape and his body arched as the magic was forced through it and tried to pull him along. The cool touch of Osset're's magic wasn't helping, in fact it was hurting him. He could feel the wall now. His magic beat against it like a caged bird in a panic and he could feel the magic that said it belonged to Osset're. They had built a wall around his magic, they had lied, they didn't want him to use it.
The whisper laughed at him. Perhaps they didn't want you to escape. Perhaps they want to keep you. But the pain gripped him again and the whisper was lost in the back of his mind.
"Osset're." Hylaarr's voice was harsh and full of suppressed pain. "You must remove the block."
Osset're gasped and moaned. "Osset're you must. He's hurting." Hylaarr's voice was like rocks against broken glass.
Hylaarr's eyes locked with Osset're's and they were silent for a long moment. Harry held in the screams hoping they were going to take the block off soon. It wasn't forever. He would be back.
"We'll get him back, Osset're." It was a promise. It would happen.
Well, of course it would.
And finally Osset're moved, his hand touching Harry's forehead, so cool against the heat of the pain and magic. And the wall began to crumble and finally fell away and the furious magic, liquid light so angry it was like liquid frost, was free. It grabbed Harry and he felt himself fade. In that moment he didn't want to go. They wanted him. They loved him. He had tried to prevent it but done a poor job and he was glad. He wanted to stay.
But the magic was insistent and wrapped around him and bore him up on wings of wind and light. The last thing he saw before the darkness was Osset're's violet eyes. They begged him to stay. The last thing he felt was a brush of lips against his head as Hylaarr kissed him goodbye. And then he was gone. And there was only darkness.
Well Darlins, thats it. I meant to put the Dursley scene in here but you all have been waiting so long. I appreciate all the reviews I've been getting, see my profile for details, and I can't wait to hear how you like Osset're's back story. There's a lot I didn't include but then you all will find out later.
Do look forward to the next chapter, some Lucius, some Dumbledore, some Harry. Also Harry discovers a new magical ability. Care to guess? I've very mildly hinted in the last bit there so you probably won't catch it.
So I just realized Osset're is a Mary Sue! Think about it. He's incredibly powerful, everyone loves him, and he's annoyingly cheerful or well annoyingly anything. I'll have to dig out my whats-a-Mary-Sue notes but I'm pretty sure I'm right. I'm not self inserting. I'm nothing like Osset're. Hmm. I hate Mary Sues. But I don't want to kill him off or anything! I love Osset're. Any suggestions? There will be a poll on my profile once this chapter is up so please let me know.
Beta note: Please make her stop, she doesn't listen to me about him, so it's up to everyone else. (grumbles about overworked, underpaid beta's who get ignored)
Poor guy has every right to complain. He doesn't get paid at all.
Love you all. Kisses. Hugs. Silk panties for everyone.
Fitful