Moriari

Chapter 11

A/N: Another update….hope you all like it. Please don't forget to review.

Rating: M (this chapter for violence)

The air was thick with fog, the morning dew caressing each delicate leaf with its soft dampness. It had been so long since the bright sun of the morning caressed her cheeks with its warm embrace. She clutched her stomach protectively, stroking it calmly, cradling the small bump that formed beneath the skin. It had been nearly two months since her exile, her condemnation and she had neither seen nor heard from Darien since. He had truly abandoned her.

In truth, she hadn't expected him to rescue her. Obligation was his bed partner now, and it held upon him a tighter grasp than she could ever. Time here, in the Guild of Embria, seemed to be passing by too fast for her liking. The suns were rising and falling too quickly; days were becoming weeks, months, closer to the birth of her child. Closer to the day of its death. A trembling hand rose to her breast, pressing upon her skin in an attempt to ease her beating heart, to cease the bile from rising in her throat, the anxiety of her future taking possession of her spirit.

It was times like these, in the quiet of the morning, anguish truly gripped her, possessed her completely in its unrelenting fingers. Fear was a heavy weight on her body and hatred was twisting away at the light in her soul. Hate had been something she rarely experienced in her childhood. Pursued and abused, she had never truly hated her human brothers. In many cases, she knew that these men thought that what they were doing was right. Purging the world of the wicked for the greater good.

But Darien's desertion of her and their child had wounded her so personally, that she feared she would never truly recover. That his actions blackened her spirit in a way that doomed her to a lifetime of iniquity, of distrust, of shame.

Early mornings like these, before the rioting started, before nightfall came and the winged beasts swooped from the sky, catching men and women in their angry grasps, and swooping off for interrogation and torture that she could truly reflect on how much she hated the man that she once loved.

A beastly man, self centered, impious. A soul she had once thought to be the world's strongest was, in truth, behind his title, a coward among men.

Shrieks echoed against the walls as the sound of bone tearing flesh pierced the ears of the audience within the room. The floor ran red; the once elegant, gray cobblestone was now stained with flecks of brown and pieces of rotting flesh. The chains rattled, clanking angrily as they slid against each other, playing a melodious song of unbridled torment and agony.

"Tell me, Zachariah," said Tiberius, leaning back in his chair, watching as the imprisoned man relaxed against the chains, his arms dangling from the ceiling as his body went limp. "You served Dante for some time. Has your lord ever gone astray?"

"No, Elder," cried the human, his lips red with blood.

"You know of Serena? The human heretic that is pregnant with a monstrosity?"

"Yes, Elder."

"You have seen her in your guild? Walking around, flaunting her belly as you lay here in chains, amidst agony."

"Yes, Elder."

"Have you spoken to her, yourself?"

"No, my Lord, she speaks to no one."

"No one at all?"

"Only her doctor, my Lord."

Tiberius smirked. These public floggings had gone on long enough. He tired of the wasting of such precious, delicious human blood. The sighted of it only aroused his hunger and brought out the demon within him. He wanted the name of the traitorous man who had sullied himself with her, so that he may be tortured and beheaded. A fate he rightly deserved. "And what is the name of her doctor?"

"Ami, Lord."

"Ami? Has she become close with this Ami?"

"Yes, my Lord. They meet weekly along with a woman named Mina, who is said also to be like Serena."

"You mean a Heretic."

"Yes, my Lord. She has a natural gift of healing."

"I see." Tiberius leaned back in his chair, his eyes falling upon the empty seat beside him, the designated place for the king, who at the moment was nowhere to be found.

Darien never had a taste for such things. He called their practices coldhearted and barbaric. But in light of progress, their means, were quite successful. Zacariah was talking; Serena had two possible confidants that perhaps knew the father of her child. Soon the interrogations would be over, the culprit killed and order would be restored to their planet.

It was only a matter of time before he was found, and when that time came, he would indeed beg for death.

"I brought herbs for you today," said the brunette, placing a basket of fruit and fauna down on the table near the comfortable sofa that sat within the small room. "They should help with the nausea."

Serena eyed the brunette wearily; her figure leaning against the wall, a protective hand guarding her belly. "Why are you here, Raye?"

Her face went blank; she looked almost hurt by Serena's question. "You know why I'm here." Her tone was soft, placating.

"I'm not going to tell on your precious brother. You already threatened me into not doing so."

Raye sighed. "I didn't threaten you Serena. I begged you. Despite what you may think of him, he is my brother, and a good man. This is hurting him as much as it is you."

"I can't believe he told you."

"I could hear him crying from my chambers." Raye looked down at her hands, recalling the night that her mind picked up on her brother's pain. It was so strong, swift, all consuming. Truthfully, Darien hadn't been the same since Serena left. It seemed as though he were sinking into madness, drowning in his own sorrow, his body thrashed and torn by agony of the mind.

"I don't believe you. And either way it doesn't matter. He brought this upon himself."

"Serena, there are things you don't understand. He's just trying to do what's best! You're lucky they didn't flog you that night or worse."

Serena remained quiet, staring at the brunette, brown eyes meeting blue. Raye looked so sad, so desperate to make her blonde counterpart understand just what this was doing to her brother. "You should go," said Serena, walking towards the door and gesturing for Raye to follow.

"Please don't be like this. This is really what's best. You don't know what thing inside of you really is. This has never happened before."

"That thing inside of me is my baby and it could come out purple for all I care. Just because something is different doesn't mean it deserves to die!"

"How could you say that? Serena you of all people should know what happens when you're different. Your parents were murdered; you spend your whole life running from other humans."

"Yes, I spent my whole life running from people like you. People with infinite power, who lack the bravery to make change. The point of the king is to be the voice of his people, to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves and yet he condemned a woman he supposedly loved and his own child. He is no king and you are no princess, you are cowards and fools." Serena closed her eyes trying to still the anger within her. Recently it seemed almost impossible for her rage not to take over. Some nights she would wake up to trembling walls and shattered windows. "You think I don't know about these interrogations. Your Elders are kidnapping and torturing innocent humans to find out what Darien could have told them himself. But what does it matter Raye, they're not your people. Their just slaves, replaceable and worthless. So why should you care?"

Raye grimaced at her words. Did Serena really think her so callous? In retrospect she didn't blame her. How could she? She had come shortly after Serena's exile to warn her about the man hunt going on. They were questioning both human and Morarian alike. Admittedly, the questioning of the humans was much more brutal, sadistic. Tiberius was the head Elder. He had been around for centuries and his title and experience garnered him almost equal power to the king. More importantly he had served their father, and his father before him. Tiberius had reared them upon her father's death. They were family.

"Think what you must of me," Raye said, rising to her feet and pulling on the hood of her cloak. "But forgive my brother. He loves you and he is heart sick with it. You, Serena, are not the only one who is suffering."

Serena smirked, her eyes flashing at Raye dangerously, her hand coming to her stomach again. "You do not know suffering, Raye, but you will. The day you take my baby away from me is the day you're world is plagued with death. You will all suffer the way I have suffered. No one will be spared. Not even your brother."

Quickly Serena reached toward Raye, forcing her outside the small room and slamming the door behind her. She collapsed against the door, her body heaving great sobs as she slid down the wood onto the ground. This hatred was taking over her mind and whatever it was that made her different from others was growing stronger. This hatred would drive her mad.

The room was dark, the sickly sweet smell of blood permeating the air. The silence was poignant and steep, the gentle crackling of wood in the fireplace the only sound audible in the room. There he sat, his back resting against the chair, the soft velvet comfortable against his skin. The goblet, golden and jeweled, rested idly in his right hand, his left, caressing the stubble across his chin.

He brought the cup to his lips, the warm liquid thick and rich. It flooded his mouth, swirling against his tongue, trickling down his throat, easing downward until it brought every vein, every pore to life. It was like this, every time he had fresh blood. Before he would be parched, a dying plant in an arid desert until sweet juice filled his veins with strength and virility.

He leaned back, satiated; his eyes closed his mouth slightly open, utter satisfaction filling him. He heard her footsteps as she approached. Her heart was heavy and her thoughts distracted. He waited quietly as she pushed the door open, delicate nails pressing against the wood. She entered softly, shutting it behind her and leaning heavily against the ornate structure.

"Did you see her?" he asked, this throat dry despite his recent meal.

"Yes."

He remained facing the grate, the glow of the embers dancing beneath dark pupils, heavy and forlorn. "And? How is she?"

Raye laughed, a deep laugh, dark, daunting. "She is unforgiving." She heard him sigh. "How did you expect her to be?"

"Is she safe?"

"Her guards have been watching her continuously. And, yes, Darien, she is unaware that you are having her watched. Those men could be killed for this. I think Tiberius wants something bad to happen to her. Why do you think he's picking off innocent humans who know nothing and torturing them?"

"I know. That is why you must continue to visit. I cannot do it myself Raye." He closed his eyes.

"Maybe you should. She's completely lost her mind. She may do something irrational."

He chuckled. "Irrational? We're going to kill her child, Raye. I don't think her behavior would be irrational. It would fitting, it would be justice."

"It's your child too."

"I know," he said, rising from his chair to face her. She hadn't seen him since last evening. Was it possible that he looked worse? She glanced down toward his hand, her eyes widening at the charred flesh that had peeled away so thoroughly that bone was peeking through.

"What happened to you?" she asked, rushing towards him.

"I wanted a taste." He said, puffy eyes downcast, starring at his healing appendage.

"A taste of what?"

"The sunlight. Her pain. I wanted to know what it felt like to hurt so much."

Raye sighed heavily. He was back to torturing himself. Just two days ago she had walked in on him gripping a hot poker from the grate until the skin practically melted from his hands. She remembered the smell of roasting flesh. The mere memory of it caused her insides to squirm.

"You can't keep doing this. Wallowing in self pity isn't going to change what happened, what will happen! You're still the king, your people need you."

Darien remained quiet, his eyes vacant, his mind empty. "They flogged seven humans today."

"I know." Raye's voice was small.

"When did I become a monster, Raye?"

Her face fell. She quickly rushed to her brother, gripping his good hand with her own. "You are no monster!"

"I'm hiding in my study, letting others pay for my sins with their blood. Tiberius will slay the humans before this is over and I am doing nothing to stop him."

"If you give yourself up he will exile you! He will move the council to appoint himself king. Deep in your heart you must know this!"

"He is an Elder, he cannot be of two thrones, Raye."

"Then who will take your place? The council thinks I am too young. Who would you rather have? Dante, Nicolae? They are lecherous fools! You are doing what's best Darien. Please, I have lost everyone, I cannot lose my brother too."

He looked at her, his eyes full of pity. If he were to do what was right and good, if her were to tell the council of his sins they would surely banish him to another planet and he would never he his dear sister again and Tiberius would begin another reign of terror against the humans that had not been seen since the days of Malachi, his great grandfather.

But could he choose himself when so many were suffering? Suffering because of his weakness? Suffering because of his love for her?

"We could be killed for this you know. Plotting against the throne," whispered Mina, putting on Serena's robe and helping her into her shoes.

"Don't you want revenge? They killed your mother!" cried Serena, gathering her hair into a loose ponytail and turning to her companion.

"We don't know that," the blonde replied, her hands shaking.

Serena frowned. "I was on the transport with Adelaine and we were both there the night of the hunt. I was the only one who made it out of that enclave. You must know this. They brutally hunted her, the way they have done so many others. And they are kidnapping innocent men in the name of justice. It must be stopped."

"Stopped, yes, but this? Serena it's dangerous for you and your baby. Not to mention, treason against the king and murder!"

"My baby cannot be saved. But her death will not be in vain."

"She would have been beautiful," Mina said, distractedly her eyes falling upon the window, watching as a group of small children played tag in the courtyard.

"Yes, but is not her time. Please Mina," she said, walking toward the blonde and entwining their fingers. "We can stop this, together. I won't involve you. I just need you to give me her name."

"You should not get involved with her. She is dangerous."

"So am I."

Mina sighed. Looking from the children to Serena. Her friend was right; they deserved more than a lifetime of captivity. Her mother deserved to die a noble, comfortable woman; not as a meal.

"She is a Heretic and a Divinator and her hiding place lies somewhere within the Caladanian woods. I do not know exactly where to find her and getting out of the guild will be almost impossible. There are soldiers at every opening."

"Not to mention the soldiers that Darien has watching me."

"Watching you? Why?"

"I don't know."

"Well, there are rumors that a blacksmith in the village knows of a secret path underground. It's underneath the courthouse."

"Which used to be Darien's house. I have been there before."

"Lita is her name, you will find her in the east wing. She can be very…difficult and crude, although I doubt she would attack a pregnant woman. You must talk to Lita first, find the path and then we will find a way to shake your guards. After which we will venture into the forest together and find the Divinator."

"And her name?" asked Serena, wrapping her day cloak around her shoulders.

"Her name is Nehelania."