TITLE: Marked
AUTHOR: LOTSlove®
CHARACTERS: Richard / Kahlan / Cara / Zedd / Original Characters
RATING: PG-16 / R later
WARNINGS: Author Chooses Not to Use Warnings
TIMELINE: Anything up through S2
DISCLAIMER: I'm completely obsessed with the show Legend of the Seeker and all things Richard and Kahlan. I love to write about them even though they cancelled my show and now I'm fighting to get it back!
SUMMARY: Sequel to my fic Revenge, Richard finally has Kahlan safely back with him, but does he really?
Chapter 34
Richard walked with his hand firmly gripping the hilt of his sword, his raptor gaze burning through the landscape hotter than the sun's rays, searching for any sign of more Mord'Sith attacks. They had travelled all day without any signs of the Sisters of the Agiel, much to Richard's relief, but they were still in deep trouble and he knew it. He honestly didn't know if they were going to make it out of it alive this time.
He could feel Kahlan's intense gaze boring into the back of his head, following closely behind and trying to figure out why he had untied her. The act had startled them both and to tell the truth, he wasn't entirely certain himself why he had done it.
No, that wasn't true. He did know why.
He loved her too much to keep her tied up like that knowing what it was doing to her whether she truly recognized it or not, whether she understood or remembered it. On some level, she was terrified out of her mind and he just couldn't do it to her any longer, be the one to cause her so much anguish no matter what the consequences were. He'd find another way to keep her with him, keep her safe.
And if she attacked him, she attacked him. He would rather be the one receiving pain instead of being the one creating it especially when it came to Kahlan. Hurting her was more painful to him than any agiel ever possibly could be.
He felt such a cold hollow ache inside, one that made it difficult to even draw a breath at times. It was similar to the raw anguish that had consumed him when Kahlan had died in his arms and yet this was so different. She was here…alive and yet she wasn't really his, no longer loved him or felt anything for him except a means to an end.
And he didn't know how much worse Kahlan's condition was going to become or when she wasn't going to be able to fight it any longer, be as compliant as she was now. He had seen flickers of her emerging at times last night and today giving him a faint glimmer of hope only to see her slip away from him all over again.
And he died a little more inside each time as he watched her slip further and further away from him, losing her to the maddening abyss that was filling her. What hurt worse was knowing that she would soon belong to his brother instead of him.
The thought of her no longer being his caused a sharp pain to spike through him. He swallowed back the sob that lodged painfully in his throat as he tried to rein in the firestorm of emotions roiling inside of him. She had truly been his in every way for such a few short days, his dreams finally becoming reality only to have it torn so viciously from his grasp. He wouldn't allow it, refused to ever accept that he had lost her forever.
He heard a sudden sharp gasp from behind, bringing him to an abrupt stop. Turning, he found Kahlan grabbing her head, doubled over in pain. He immediately went to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Here, eat this," he told her, digging a couple of Odo's seeds from his pocket and holding them out to her.
"No," she gasped through clenched teeth. "It's just a trick of some kind. You want to stop me from getting to Lord Demos."
"It's not a trick, Kahlan," he snapped in frustration, pulling her hair back. "It'll help with the pain."
She stared at him for a long moment through tear-filled eyes, trying to decide whether he was telling the truth or not. Finally, the pain became too much to withstand and with a shaky hand took the seeds from him, eating them quickly and wincing from the horrible taste that suddenly coated her throat.
"I have to…stop thinking so much," she choked out as she finally straightened up, the headache beginning to subside ever so subtly.
"Why?" he asked with a frown.
"Because every time I try to remember, try to figure out who you are or why you love me, the headache becomes unbearable," she admitted as she pulled out of his hold on her, brushing her hair out of her face. "I can't remember much of anything anymore now. All I know is this powerful draw to go to the People's Palace and that I have to bring you with me in order to please my master."
Reaching out, Richard lightly stroked her hair, his hand coming to rest on the nape of her neck, his thumb caressing the edge of her jaw. "I'm never going to give up trying to save you, Kahlan," he softly promised her. "I'm going to kill Demos and get our lives back."
"I won't let you kill Lord Demos," she scowled, suddenly pulling away from him. "I will stop you."
"I'm not about to let Demos touch you," he firmly stated, his jaw clenching and unclenching with anger. "He is a depraved animal who only wants to hurt you and I'll be damned if I ever let that happen."
"And I will protect my master with my last breath," she sneered defiantly at him.
"You have to fight this!" he angrily spat out, roughly grabbing hold of her arms. "I need you, Kahlan. I can't do this alone, can't fight this by myself!"
Kahlan jerked free of his hold on her, turning her back to him as she fought the cloud of confusion that filled her mind. The fierce war being waged inside was becoming too much to withstand. She felt as though she was going mad, swinging from one emotional end to another, momentarily remembering only to have it snatched away from her grasp.
And she had no idea why any of this was happening to her. Why did she feel so drawn to this man here with her now and yet so compelled to hurt him, to take him to Lord Demos?
"Kahlan, you have failed me. I ordered you to come to me and bring me the Seeker…"
The familiar haunting voice swiftly filled her senses and rattled her to her very core. She immediately fell to her knees in humble submission to him. "I'm sorry," she gasped, lowering her head in shame. "I was…confused. I don't understand what's happening."
"Kahlan, what you talking about?" Richard asked with a narrowed gaze as he came to kneel before her. He grasped her face in his hands, her dark eyes glazing over. It was as if someone else altogether different was staring back at him. "Kahlan, what's wrong? What's happening?"
"You have wasted enough time! Come to me now and bring me Richard Cypher…"
Richard watched in horror as Kahlan began to tremble, blood trickling from her nose. Her eyes flashed blood red before abruptly swirling to black again. The very air around him suddenly became like icy needles prickling his skin and causing the fine hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.
Despite the blue sky and sun shining hotly above, a sudden fierce wind came out of nowhere, blowing around them and through them. Her raven hair whipped wildly about her face, creating a dangerous air about her.
"Get out of my head!" Kahlan growled, her fingers digging into her skull as the battle raged violently within.
Richard grabbed hold of her arms, desperation an ice cold knife in his chest. "Fight it, Kahlan!" he demanded. "Stay with me…choose me!"
Kahlan growled in pain, roughly shoving Richard away from her. He landed hard on his back several feet away from her, knocking the air from his lungs. She began to rock back and forth on her heels as she fought the changes building inside of her.
"Kill me, Richard…please…" she pleaded with him as tears began to stream down her face. "Please! Make it stop! End my life now!"
"Kahlan, no!" Richard roared, nostrils flaring as rage rose like a tidal wave in his soul. His hand went to his side, bracing his broken ribs as he stumbled to his feet. "You have to fight this! I know you, Kahlan. You're the strongest woman I have ever met. You can do this!"
"No…no, I'm not!" she wept, shaking her head. "I can't…"
"I love you, Kahlan Amnell and I am never going to leave you!" he yelled at her. "Our love can give you strength! You just have to fight him!"
"Take him now!" Demos roared in her head.
"I…I can't fight it…" she gasped in pain. Without another word, Kahlan swiftly reached behind her, drawing her dagger and holding it to her chest. "I have to stop this…now…"
"Kahlan, stop!" Richard screamed at her, his eyes wild with terror.
"Stop, Kahlan! No!" Demos's voice echoed through her mind as he sensed what she was about to do.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" she cried, raising the dagger. "Please…forgive me…"
"No! Don't!" Richard cried as he raced for her, tackling her and slamming her hard onto the ground a heartbeat before she could plunge the blade deep into her chest.
Gritting his teeth against the pain that shot through his side from his broken ribs, he immediately seized her wrist, his iron-like grip keeping her from using the dagger on herself. Panting heavily, Richard used all of his weight to keep her restrained, his fingers digging into her wrists as he pinned her arms to either side of her head.
Kahlan sobbed hysterically, her breaths hiccoughing gasps for air. Her entire body shook beneath him as she arched her back. Sharp piercing pains sliced like hot knives through her head, threatening to drag her into unconsciousness as something so dark and vile oozed within her.
Richard stared down at her, his heart breaking with the turmoil she was going through, so desperate to save her and yet so powerless to do so. He honestly didn't know how much more of this he could take, being forced to watch her suffer like this and not be able to help her.
"It's alright," he repeatedly murmured, tears filling his own eyes as he softly pressed his lips against hers, doing the only thing he could do at that moment. "Don't ever leave me…please…I love you, Kahlan…"
She squeezed her eyes shut against the pain, against the feel of the Seeker's body pressing into her, his lips brushing so tenderly against hers. She didn't know what to think, who she should believe anymore. Her body wanted him so badly she could scarcely breathe, but her mind kept telling her something else, something altogether different…something much darker and twisted that ran like thorny vines through her body and holding her prisoner.
"Just let me die…" she softly sobbed, her tears breaking free and disappearing into her hair.
"Kahlan, you are mine…you must obey me…bring me the Seeker!"
"Kahlan, you're mine. I'm not going to let you die," Richard whispered against her lips, his tears falling onto her face and mingling with her own. "You are forever mine. We are bound to each other and nothing can ever sever that."
"NO!" Kahlan screamed, suddenly knocking Richard off of her.
Kahlan quickly leapt to her feet, drawing her other dagger. She watched Richard as he slowly got to his feet, his hand cradling his side as he warily stared at her.
"I'm not going to fight you, Kahlan," he breathed heavily, refusing to draw his sword.
His rage was already thrumming through his veins and heating his blood without even touching his weapon. He was too afraid of what would happen if he drew it again, the uncontrollable fury with what was happening to her taking over, threatening to sweep away all logic. He was too terrified of hurting her again.
"You aren't going to escape your fate," she bit out as she circled her prey. "Lord Demos wants you."
Staring at her, he noticed a feral quality to her now, a primal instinct to the way she was moving. It was difficult to believe that this was truly his Confessor, his Kahlan stalking him as if he was her next meal. He fought to keep his breathing even despite the sharp jabs of pain that grabbed his side as he tried to keep some distance between him and Kahlan.
"Kahlan, I'm going to stop Demos," he finally said, knowing it was the only way to end this once and for all. "You can either come with me or stay here, but I am not going to fight you again."
Kahlan watched he turned away from her, bending over with a grimace of pain as he picked up his pack. He began to walk away from her, heading in the direction of the People's Palace. She had definitely not expected him to do this.
Richard's insides were wound tightly in anticipation of what Kahlan would do next. He did not fear her, never had and never would, but he had no idea how she would react to him walking away from her like this. He silently prayed that somewhere in the tangled dark recesses of her mind she might still remember that he loved her deeply, remembered the love that she had once felt for him.
He hoped that should follow him like she had all day, trusting him despite the suspicions and confusion that toyed relentlessly with her mind. He swallowed hard as he heard her drawing near from behind, fearful for her what was happening to her, not what she could potentially do to him.
Raking his fingers back through his hair, Richard fought the overwhelming urge to turn around and grab hold of her, taking her into his arms and forcing her to remember everything they had meant to each other.
Just as he was about to turn around, everything suddenly went black.
XXX
Demos released a furious scream as the connection with his Confessor was suddenly broken again. It was growing stronger with every passing day, the link to her mind and the mark she bore binding them together.
"Problem, my Lord?"
Demos turned to look at Mistress Lucinda standing off to the side watching him. "This isn't going at all like I had expected," he sneered. "The spell should have taken complete control of her by now and yet she is still managing to fight it somehow. I don't understand how this is even possible."
Lucinda ground her teeth, furious over the fact that the Mother Confessor was even still alive and connected to Demos. Mistress Cyia should have been able to find her by now, killing her and ridding her from their lives for good.
"Maybe there's something wrong with the spell you used," Lucinda replied, not caring the least bit about it. Her only concern was keeping Kahlan Amnell away from Lord Demos Rahl.
"There is nothing wrong with the spell," he suddenly yelled. "It must have something to do with Kahlan. Maybe her Confessor's magic is somehow weakening it, not allowing it to take hold like it should."
"There's not much you can do about it," Lucinda said, calmly smoothing her hand over her red leather.
Before she knew it, Demos was right there before her, his hand tightly clutching her throat. A sneer danced on his lips as his dark glower rained down upon her. She fought to catch her breath, not moving a muscle as he held her in his fierce hold.
"There is plenty I can still do about it," he seethed, his breath hot pulsating blasts against her face. It turned her on more than ever.
"Like what?" she whispered, her green eyes locked on his.
"I can go after her, force her into submitting to me," Demos spat out. "She is mine now and I will be damned if I let Richard keep her from me!"
Demos practically shook with the fury consuming him as he tightened his hold on the Mord'Sith's throat. He could tell from the flush of her skin that she was as aroused as he was at that moment. He quickly smashed his mouth against hers, kissing her hard and biting her lip even harder.
He released his hold on her throat as she gasped at the feel of his teeth sinking into her lip and drawing blood. Pulling back, she smirked as her tongue slowly dragged along the bite mark, lapping up the blood that trickled free as she stared into his eyes.
"Why are you so obsessed with the Mother Confessor?" she finally asked, surprising herself with her boldness. "Don't I bring you more than enough pleasure, my Lord?"
Demos smirked, lightly running the tip of his finger along her cheek before finding the visible bite mark on her lip. He raked his fingernail sharply over the small wound and earning a hiss as more blood leaked freely from it.
Leaning in, he lightly licked away the blood, savoring the metallic taste on his tongue. "You provide me plenty of pleasure, Mistress," he murmured against her lips. "But I want even more."
Lucinda shivered despite herself, her jealousy rising like a deadly viper within her. "What if I want you for myself?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Demos chuckled softly with her words. "There is plenty of me to go around," he smirked, his hand settling on the nape of her neck and squeezing hard.
Lucinda's heart hardened like rock in her chest with his smug reply. She didn't want 'plenty of him to go around'. She wanted him all for herself, not to share with the Mother Confessor. She was going to have to keep Kahlan away from the People's Palace and from Demos one way or another.
"I can see you're already recovered from last night," she gasped as he ground his hips against her, causing her to slowly lose all coherent thought. "The Palace healer did a commendable job. Does that mean you're up for another few rounds tonight?"
"Maybe later," he murmured against her throat as he nipped and kissed her skin still red from where he had gripped her. "I need to consult my books to see what's going wrong with the spell. This could be a long night."
"Are you sure you don't want any company?" she seductively purred.
"I'm sure," he said. "I don't need any distractions right now."
Lucinda immediately bristled, enraged by his refusal to stay with him tonight. No one turned her down…not even the mighty Lord Demos Rahl.
