CHAPTER ONE
It was a crisp, September night. The skies were clear and the stars were glistening, sparkling diamonds accented by the light of the moon. Truly beautiful. Of course being out in the country had it's advantages. Nights like these for instance. He had lived in the city once and couldn't stand it. He had missed clear skies.
He was turning into a romantic. How quaint.
His home could be described as a mansion, he never gave it any thought. It was comfortable and suited his needs. It was literally in the middle of nowhere which was exactly how he liked. Visitors were not welcome.
Which was why his brilliant eyes narrowed to slits when he seen a shadow -a person- stumbling across his lawn. How dare this wretch defy his wishes and trespass? How many 'keep out' signs did he need to post? Wasn't the stone wall enough to dissuade would be visitors away?
With a growl, he stepped away from the window.
*****
Cerri halted, her eyes narrowing then expanding as she took in her surroundings. She had found this odd rock in her way and with great difficulty managed to scale it. In the process she had tangled her hair in surrounding tree limbs, making her look somewhat like a wraith.
She had to escape the city and so she did. The fresh air was a welcome relief though her feet hurt. These hard things covering them only made them hurt even more. She knew there was a word for them but couldn't remember it.
Cerri flexed her fingers, staring down at the alabaster skin of her hands. Frowning, she took a moment to realize a foreign sensation assaulting her. It was like daggers piercing her skin, only deeper. It took a moment before it hit that she was cold. She smiled at the thought. At home it was always warm, nobody there had ever dreamed of being old. Except those who had come back from the Mortal world, what few did.
She then figured she should have somehow procured warmer clothing instead of running around in the coarse leggings and cloth top she'd arrived in. Sighing, she pressed on.
*****
He left the house as silent as the cool night that surrounded him, a smirk curving his sensual lips. In his left hand he carried a katana, ready to teach the trespasser a lesson they would never forget. Most likely, one they'd never recover from.
Slowly, he stalked his prey, taking in the fact that it was a female, woman or girl he couldn't tell. Eyes gleaming, he reached out with his right hand and jerked her back against his chest. Within seconds the blade of the katana was pressed against the girl's throat, his arm around her waist. "Give me a reason why I should let you live." He growled in her ear.
Blinking in surprise, Cerri acted on instinct. She immediately brought her head and right foot back at the same time while leaning forward. A startled yelp escaped her when this large human just snorted, holding her firmly.
Damn this mortal body! It was as strong as a piece of straw and about as durable. She didn't even have one tenth of her normal strength in this bag of bones. True, she wasn't very strong to begin with, just able to lift maybe a ton by human standards, but still! This puny body couldn't do anything.
"I am sorry." The words sounded strange to her, the voice even stranger. It was low and husky, not a melodic aria she was used too. "I was not meaning to… tres-pass is the word?"
He stared down at the wild mass of purple he assumed was covering a head. "This is my land." He said gruffly. "Trespassers normally do not survive." His tone lowered; a deadly, evil infusion lacing every word. "Now little girl, if you tell me who sent you, I might decide to let you leave here with only a few wounds."
It took several moments to understand that this Mortal was threatening her. Cerri frowned, blinking in confusion. "Sent me? My care-takers sent me. Not to here, I don't think, they just made me leave home." She reached up with her free hand to feel the sword. "What is this thing you're holding against me? It is hurting my skin." In fact, her other arm was sore from being wrenched behind her back and she was still cold.
She HATED this Plane!
For some odd reason, he found this woman quite fascinating. Things had been rather dull around the place which was just the way he liked it. He knew without anyone telling him that things were about to change and he also knew he should either send her packing or kill her. He did neither.
"This thing is called a katana, a sword. It's made to slit throats when trespassers come onto my land." He said gravely, letting the blade drag away from her throat as he released her. When she turned around, he pressed it to her chin, his eyes daring her to make one wrong move. "Now, who are your parents and why would they send you here?"
"Parents?" She echoed the word, rolling it around it her mind. "Oh! You mean my primary family unit! Purgi and Sabre." Cerri pushed the flat of the blade away from her face, looking disgusted with the crude metal blade. "I did not mean to tres-pass… I am here to learn." She stared up at this human, taking in his feature the best she could in the moonlight. By Human standards he was breath-taking, in a cruel way. She could also tell he was dangerous. "If you would show me the direction, I will leave."
"Learn what exactly?" He pressed, ignoring everything else. His eyes piercing her soul, providing she had one. He knew there was something different about this one, something he could not quite put his finger on. All he knew was at that the moment he let his guard down, she would strike. That wasn't going to happen.
"I do not know. I have to discover that on my own." Her purple eyes narrowed as she stepped back. "That… ka-ta-na is offensive." Cerri inhaled sharply when she landed on the ground, feeling something heavy on her abdomen. A look downward showed a large boot planted on her. A shiver of fear coursed throughout her, something she'd felt only once before. When she was told to leave home. "I said I did not mean to tres-pass. I will leave." To her chagrin, her voice was wavering.
"I think not." He replied casually, though she could catch a deadly lilt to the tone of his voice. He glanced briefly at the katana. "It's supposed to be sharp, head comes off easier with a keen blade." Slowly, he dragged his boot off of her and took a step back, still aiming the sword at her. "Now then, there isn't a vacant hotel for miles around. I'll let you stay in my home for one night. If you don't, I will be insulted and therefore kill you."
"Your logic makes no sense. You will kill me for coming but you will also kill me for leaving?" She summarized, pushing herself off the ground. "Kill…" Cerri focused on that word alone, her eyes widening in panic. "You mean to make me not exist?"
How savage were these beings? No wonder Humans were despised by the rest of the Planes, well most of them, they were exterminating themselves! If she was 'killed' on this Plane, she would never be able to return home. She'd cease to exist altogether. "I'll come with you."
"Wise decision. Now walk." He ordered, a sick smirk curving his lips. This woman was definitely from a mold he didn't recognize and it made him wonder if there was more to her than what met the eye. He'd soon find out as they headed back to the manor.
Two gargoyle statues stood at the entrance, barring the way.
He nodded at them, watching as one sprang to life. "Good evening, Maurice. We have a guest."
The Gargoyle scented the air, it's small beady eyes taking in the woman. "A mix-breed by the smell of her, Master." It hissed in a raspy voice.
Cerri stared at it, looking politely bemused but didn't say anything.
Maurice laughed harshly, fixing her with a pointed look before turning back to stone, the sound of it's cackling laughter still echoing around them.
"A mixed breed, eh? How very… interesting. Move."
She felt a massive hand between her shoulder blades, shoving her through the door. Cerri glanced around as she was herded forward. The walls were a dark green trimmed with black woodwork. Furniture just as grim adorned the rooms she was pushed through, it was depressing.
She walked through an archway bordered in scenes she didn't even want to contemplate. The first thing she saw was a roaring fireplace with flames licking the mantle above it.
"Sit." He shoved her towards a black chaise, nodding when she did. "You are indeed a smart one."
It took a second to realize she had just been insulted. Cerri actually had a scathing remark to make but opted for silence instead. She held out her hands towards the flames, feeling the warmth washing over her. All that traveling as well as the cold and being accosted was beginning to sink in. she could feel her eyelids closing and fought to keep them open, recalling an old adage: first defense against evil is to keep your eyes open.
"You look exhausted. Why don't I have my butler show you to a room?" He suggested, his voice deep and rough now. No longer did it hold a deadly tone though the edge was there yet. He sighed when she slumped, moving over to lift her in his arms. "Or I can do it."
