1 comments/ 4254 views/ 8 favorites Shadows of Life Ch. 01 By: drews_lette11 (This is the first story I've ever published for others to see. I realize the sentence structure is incorrect and probably has some grammatical errors. Please comment and rate this first installment of 'Shadows of Life'. Depending on the response will determine if I post the next chapters.) * She looked over her shoulder for the third time in as many minutes that night. She was acutely aware of being tailed. But by who or what, she didn't know. Hoping it wasn't the rest of the clan she had just disbanded and demolished, she hurried to her bike.Logic overrode her panicking mind as she took off on her crotch rocket at 100 mph. The demons wouldn't bother following her; they would attack her.Who ever was following her was smarter, faster, and not an angry vengeful demon. She needed to be cautious. Tonight, she would go to sleep at her family home. Her brother's were out of town and less likely to yell at her for allowing herself to be followed at all. They were always yelling at each other and her. She was used to it and tended to ignore them when they were on a rant. By the time she arrived at her childhood home, she knew that only one being was following her, a male at that. Knowing that nothing short of a miracle would allow someone onto the property without authorization, she slipped her hand under the scanner, the needles piercing her skin to draw blood and assure the guard at the gate she really was who she said she was. After the guard had let her in, she stooped to greet him. "Hello, Sam," she said pleasantly "How are you?" "Hello, Miss. Hunter. I'm doing fine. and you," he said as he hugged her warmly. It still made her laugh that after 34 years in service to her family, and watching her grow up, he still insisted on calling her by her last name. "I'm fine. A little lonely. I figured I'd come home tonight." She hugged him back warmly. "I just don't want my brothers breathing down my neck." "I see. Don't worry, Miss. Your entry will be erased as usual. and your brothers are currently away on business, " Sam said with a cheeky smile. "You always were my savior, Sam" She kissed his cheek and drove up the driveway at an unhurried pace. Inside she was panicking,worrying that whoever was following her could get into the house if she wasn't careful. Despite the knowledge of all the safety and security procedures in place. She parked her bike in the back to avoid her brothers noticing if they came home early. Trudging up the back steps, she pulled off her helmet, her long hair falling about her in a jet black wave, the moon illuminating the dark bluish-black tones scattered in her hair. Holding her red and black helmet limply at her side, she opened the voice activated door and went up the stairs to her room to take a shower and sleep. ******************** (2 hours later) He was in her room, watching her from the shadows. She tried to cover her naked body but she couldn't move her arms. She could only lay there, as the faceless man sat on the edge of the bed to lean over her. His left hand rested by her right hip as his right hand reached out to cup her cheek. She moaned at the warm callused hand as it slid down her neck and shoulder to cup her breast. Once his hand cupped her, he couldn't prevent himself from continuing. She lay before him, more beautiful than he had ever imagined as she moaned in pleasure at what his hands were doing to her. Pinching her nipple, he leaned forward to kiss her, capturing her mouth and plundering it ruthlessly. She purred and arched under him, her hands tentatively touching his chest. She slid her hands under his shirt in a bold move for more. He tugged it off quickly, knowing what she wanted. Her eyes roamed over his bare muscled chest, watching it rise and fall rapidly. Her eyes traveled down to his tented jeans and she shuddered, not at all sure she wanted to have him inside her if he was straining that much. He saw where her gaze landed and guessed at the reason behind her sudden uneasiness. He quickly stripped off the rest of his clothes, standing before her to let her get used to his size before rejoining her on the bed. Laying beside her, he ran his hand down her body and slipped it between her legs. Rubbing against her most private area, he prepared her for his invasion of her body. Taking her hand in his other hand, he slid it down his body to wrap it around his hardened member, showing her how to pleasure him as he pleasured her. He whispered her name when she squeezed him experimentally. She didn't even hesitate to think over how he even knew her name. She didn't really care. All she cared about was his fingers playing over her womanhood. She stroked his thick, throbbing shaft, marveling at how big he was. She cried out when he thrust a finger inside her, her muscles clamping down on the intruding digit. As he continued to imitate what he would do to her, she licked his chest, her hand continuing to caress him. He had to have her, right now. If he didn't have her, he was going to go insane. Pulling his finger out, he sucked it clean. Sliding over her, he parted her legs with his knee, settling between her muscled thighs. His cock was pressing against her, demanding entrance. He slid the tip of his member into her. Suddenly, he heard a noise, heard footsteps pounding their way up the massive front staircase. he kissed her and grabbed his pants and boxers, jumping out the open window and into the night. ******************** "Silvanus, how could you be so careless as to get followed?Then be so stupid as to let him in your room," he brother screamed at her, pacing back and forth across her bedroom floor. he had barged into her room, catching her struggling to cover her naked body. Sniffing the air, he had discovered an unfamiliar males scent despite the open window. That and the overly large black t-shirt her mystery man had left behind. "How do you know I didn't just let him in, R'ale? How do you know he isn't my secret lover?" She glared at him, her hands on her hips. She wasn't naked anymore, having put on the t-shirt. "I highly doubt that, sister." His eyes tried to bore a hole in her head. "I know you only too well. And your still a virgin." "You presume much. Where is Leviathane?" Their eldest brother, and more prone to be calm than angry. "He is on his way, and he is furious." "I highly doubt THAT. He is smarter than you." R'ale just glared at her before stomping out of her room. After the door slammed shut behind him, she locked it, her mind turning the multiple locks on the solid oak and steel reenforced door. Heading back to bed, she smiled as she saw how rumpled it was. she wasn't much of a tosser. So the destruction was from her and her uninvited guest's late night activities. Sliding into bed, she pulled up the covers and feel back to sleep. she left the window open to air out the room but also to let her mystery man back in if he came back. Her last thought was of who he was and why he had come to her before her body shut down to heal in the way of her people. ******************** A man that was tall and bulky with muscles sat behind a dark oak desk, his haunting dark blue eyes following the path of the agitated man pacing before him. "You are overreacting, little brother. Tayla is not a child anymore," the man with the blue eyes told the pacing man. "If she acts like a child, Levi, she is a child. She allowed some... MAN.. who was tailing her into the house, into her ROOM, and almost had sex with him. How could she be so... Immature? He could have raped her, or worse..." Leviathane let his brother R'ale rant on and on, knowing that if he wasn't interrupted after five or six minutes, he'd stop. Sure enough, after about five and a half minutes of ranting about their baby sister's imperfections and carelessness, he took a deep breath and sat down to huff and pout. Levi rubbed the back of his neck then pinned R'ale with a stare. "Your accusations for the most part are unfounded." He held up his hand for silence when R'ale moved to speak. "However, she was careless in letting an unknown male into this house, then letting him use her as he did. She is promised to another, whether or not Tayla is willing to go to him." "Do I get to tell her that her time for being foolish and wild is over?" R'ale sat forward in his chair, hope filling his eyes. "No. that is my job and it is not something to enjoy." "Yes, it is. I personally think that the contract should have stayed the same, and she should have been turned over to the man when she turned 18." "When what you think is what runs this family and all it's possessions, then you can tell me what you think. Until then, keep it to yourself unless I ask." "I say, that's not fair. I'm only three years younger than you." "Exactly. Three years, in which I hold more knowledge on this. Besides, it was his suggestion that she have ten years to herself." "Ridiculous if you ask me." "Well I didn't and I would appreciate it if you stuffed a sock in it and -" A knock interrupted Levi from blowing up on his brother. Something only his brother could do. "Come." he rested his elbows on the edge of his desk and pressed his finger tips together gently. The door opened and the butler announced the visitor. "Prince Dimitri Dragohnoff Tourmentor of the Tourment clan, sir, here to see you." The butler bowed as the Prince walked by him. He turned and shut the door after him. R'ale stood as the man passed him and quickly left the room. Before he left, he saw his brother rise and shake the Princes' hand. R'ale knew the mans sudden appearance bode ill for his sister. Despite what he'd said about shipping her off ten years ago, he didn't mean it. He rushed to guard his sister from her intended, determined to keep her as long as he could. ******************** Levi sighed as he went upstairs to inform his brother of who had visited their sister. he wouldn't be to happy about it, but neither had Levi when he had heard. Going to his sisters room, he found the door already locked. R'ale was with Tayla. entering quickly and quietly, he shut and relocked the door. He noticed the scents in the room as he safeguarded it. He recognized all of them. Including the one his brother had been in a rage over. he inhaled the scent again and shook his head. Seeing that his siblings were already resting, he decided to sleep. He stripped to his boxers as his brother had done, sliding into bed next to his sister on her left side, his brother on her right, caging her in on the bed. he soon drifted off to sleep. Holding her to him, his last thought was of how sad he would be when he couldn't hold her anymore. ******************** The man watched Levi prepare for bed, sliding in beside his sister and clutching her to him. this was the reason for his prolongment in the claiming of her life. But now her time had come to an end. He could not allow her to roam free any longer. When he had spoken to Levi, he had told him that he would not lose his sister until the morning. Watching the siblings now, he was not sure he had the strength to wait those few hours until she was his and his alone. He decided that it would be best if he took her away from them now instead of later when they could come up with an excuse to keep her. He just hoped his actions didn't prevent her from loving him in the future. Shadows of Life Ch. 02 Tayla woke up to someone pressed against her back. Heat radiated from the naked, muscular torso. She knew the person was naked because she was naked too. She assumed that her brother had stripped her as he always did so she didn't overheat and fall ill. But THAT brother slept on her right and was never up before she was. That and her brothers were never completely naked either, But the man spooning with her was. She could feel the evidence of his arousal pressed against her ass. Opening her eyes slowly, she took in her surroundings; and almost screamed at what she saw. This was not Silvanus' room and she suspected the massive room was not in her house either. She slowly slid off the bed, careful not to wake her bed partner. Looking around the room, she hunted for clothes. She found a pair of boxers, a black t-shirt, and a robe. Tayla put them all on before turning to confront her abductor only to find him propped up on an elbow, watching her intently. She opened her mouth to demand that he return her to her family when she noticed a long jagged scar on the mans torso. It ran from his left shoulder down to his right nipple. She remembered that scar from the night before. The scar she had traced as he had been about to take her. Taking her from her home was one thing; but for the kidnapper to be her midnight lover, that was just too much. "YOU! YOU... YOU.. Return me to my family. NOW!" She screamed at him, planting her hands on her hips, glaring. "Your brothers are not at home. They are down the hall, seeing to the moving of your belongings." He continued to stare at her, his deep blue eyes flaring with heat. "What do you mean, the moving of my belonging's?" She waved away his reply. "Nevermind, I will ask them myself." She stormed out of the room and followed the sounds of commotions to get to her brothers. The instant R'ale saw her bearing down upon them, however, he tapped levi on the shoulder, pointed at her, then darted into the nearest room. "What are you doing, Leviathane?" she halted in front of him, arms crossed. He lowered his clipboard, looking her up and down, then returning to checking off the crated pouring into the rooms on both sides of the hall. "Your moving out of your apartment and the manor and moving in here," he relied without looking up. "Why? I don't even know the man who lives here," she retorted hottly. "You do know him." he continued to tick off boxes on the clipboard. "And according to him, you know him rather well. He was only in your bedroom last night." "I know he was in my bedroom last night. What I want to know is why." "Your getting married, thats why. And a wife such as you would live with her husband." He finally put down the clipboard, having finished ensuring nothing of hers was left behind. Throwing a look at his brother, who was peaking from behind a doorway, he finally realized she was staring at him in shock and confusion. "It's not as if you didn't know about the Prince. You have been betrothed to him since before you were born." "That's not the high and stuck-up Prince, Levi." she said, pointing back the way she'd came. R'ale stuck his head out from behind the door. Before Levi could respond, he said "Yes, he is. I don't know about you but its kind of hard to miss the mark of his family line on his arm." He ducked back behind the door just as Levi's clipboard went sailing through the air towards him. "Shut up, R'ale!" Tayla screamed. "Tayle," Levi interjected softly. "You knew your time was coming to an end. Be thankful he gave you that time before he claimed you. And he gave you that time against the contract, I might add." "Thats not the point, Levi. You and dad gave me away before I was even BORN." She turned away to his her tears. "Your giving me to a man I don't know, a man who I could never know."R'ale came out of hiding at her words and hugged her, knowing Levi wouldn't. "He wasn't given a choice either, my love." R'ale tilted her head up to look at her. "He was only six when his parents betrothed him." "It's not fair. I don't want to be his wife," she complained, wiping away her tears. A voice spoke from behind them. "I'm sorry I'm not what you want as your husband. And I'm sorry I didn't spend any time with you so you could get to know me." The confession came from the tall man standing half in theshadows, no longer naked but wearing a pair of pajama bottoms. "I'm so sorry, Tayla." He turned and walked back to what she assumed was his wing of the house. Tayla..." Levi whispered. "What?" "He loves you, you know." "He doesn't even know me, Levi," she said in denial. Levi shook his head at her words. "He does, Tayla. He knows everything about you. From how long you keep your hair to what perfume you wear. From how old you were when you first spoke to the birthmark on the back of your neck. the one you hide from the world... He can draw it exactly the same, tayla. Dimitri has always been there, waiting for the chance to make you his wife. Perhaps you should give him a chance?" She only stared at him, hatred blazing in her eyes. Levi and R'ale both knew that the Prince was in for a long ride. Looking at each other, they went back to directing servants as to where everything went. ******************** She was holed up in her room again. The servant who had come to him to tell him she was home had come back with an untouched tray of food and the news that she refused to open the door.It had been two weeks since Tayla had moved into their home, and she still refused to leave her room during the day or stay in the house at all at night. Dimitri wasn't going to take this anymore. His bride needed to understand she was a part of THIS family now. And she needed to learn it sooner rather than later. He stormed up the stairs to his rooms, using the secret passage way that led from his office to his bedroom. Grabbing a pair of cuffs from his dresser and the master key, he made his way to her rooms. He didnt use the passage way to her room, not wiling for her to know about them yet. When he reached her door, he unlocked her bedroom door and stormed in. "Silvanus Darra Tayla Hunter, you are the most frustrating, haughty, ungrateful woman I have ever met." He stopped behind her as she stared out the window. It was then he realized she was crying, glistening silver tears falling down her olive toned cheeks. "Tayla?" He rested his hands on her shoulders, then wrapped his arms around her, hunching his back so he could press his cheek against hers. "Baby, whats wrong? Why are you crying?" He questioned her gently. "It's nothing. Go away." She tried to pull away from him but he just held her tighter. "Please Dimitri, just leave me alone," Tayla whispered. "I can't, my love. Your crying and I want to help." "You can't help me. Your father and mine made a contract without our concent and now we must marry." She felt her strength weaken and she leaned aginast him for support. "Actually, my father did have my consent. I wanted to marry you. It was my idea for the marraige anyway." "What? You wanted this... this... farce?" She jerked from his arms, whipping around to face him. He watched her whirl around, her hair fanning out, the sun lighting up her hair. the sun made her locks look like silk. He looked into her eyes and nodded, "Yes, I did," he said answering her question. "Why would you want that? For all you knew I could have been a boy." "The day before my birthday, my mother sat me down and told me that one day I would have a vision of my future. A vision that would tell me were my destiny lay," Dimitri spoke as he looked at her. Tayla stared back with suspicion and rage in her eyes. "That very same night, I did have a vision. It was of me, as a man. I had a wife whose beauty was unrivaled. We had children all around us and we were so happy." He smiled and shook his head at the memory. "I fond out it was you in my vision." "And how did you know it was me in your vision?" Tayla questioned skeptically. "Because of two things, Tayla," he replied. "One was the two crests on the matle. One was my familys, the other my father identified as the Hunter clan crest." "And what was the second?" "I had that vision at the same time your mother got pregnant with you. I was the one who told her she was pregnant with a girl two months after my vision. When they determined that she was pregnant, and that you were indeed a female, I proposed the idea of the betrothal contract. Our fathers agreed." "You lie. My father would never have fallen for such lies. I don't believe you!" "You don't have to." He took her in hsi arms and just held her, content to have her in his arms. After a while, she held him back and then began to fall asleep on her feet. He picked her up and took her to the bed, laying down with her in his arms. They slept the afternoon away. Dimitri woke up before she did and wrote her a note, hoping she would come to him willingly. Kissing her forehead, he left. ******************** Dimitri paced in the candle lit private dining room in his wing of the house, wating, ever waiting. He looked down at the tux he wore then at the clock; it was 8:45. He cursed and yanked off the bow tie. She wasn't going to come. She was almost an hour late. Facing the window, he hand't heard the door open. He stood there, staring out the window for a good five minues before he spoke to himself. "Why won't she come to me? Am I so repulsive that she can't even eat a meal with me?" He heard the shifting of clothes and he sighed. "She isn't coming, is she?" He shook his head and sighed as his shoulders slumped forward in defeat. "I'd better go tell Mrs. Berry that her efforts to please my bride will not be used this night. I only wish that she understood that she is hurting the people who serve her." He turned around and stopped dead. There she stood in a slim floor length black evening gown that hugged every curve of her body. Low cut with thin criss-crossing straps and a slit up to her left hip. Her hair had been split in half. The bottom half tumbled around her shoulders and down her back, the other half done up in a type of bun with loops and curls that was kept in place with diamond tipped hair pins. Around her neck was an icicle necklace, each strand holding more and more diamonds as it went in. Her arms and wrists were bare along with her feet. Damn. He thought, I forgot shoes. He continued to look her over, stunned by her beauty. Tayla stood there, motionless. After what seemed like forever but was only a few minutes, Dimitri cleared his throat and went to her. "Good evening, Tayla." He offered her his arm. "You look exquisite." "Your not looking so bad yourself, Tourmentor," she said. "But that wasn't a very nice thing to say about your bride. I'm not being rude to them." She placed her hand in the crock of his arm. "Just you." She let him lead her to the small dining room table in the center of the room. The table could seat six people but only two places were set. One at the head of the table and the other to its right. "Nice table," she said, not knowing what else to say. he sat her to the right of him and sat himself at the head of the table. he seemed very comfortable in his surroundings. But she didn't have time to study him further. At that moment, a flurry of servants came pouring into the room, laden down with foor. Mrs. Berry, the plump and sympathetic cook, led the proccession. She stayed the entire time, making sure everything was in place and nothing was spilled. After everyservant was gone and the betrothed couple had been served, Mrs. Berry winked at Tayla and left with a smile on her face. The wink and smiles did not escape Dimitri's notice. "What was all that about?" he asked Tayla, staring at all the food on his plate. "What was what?" Tayla asked innocently. She was already pushing food around her plate to get to what she wanted. "The wink Mrs. Berry gave you and the exchange of smiles." "I have no idea what your talking about," she replied with a mischievious grin she tried to hide with her napkin. "Youy lying to me, Tayla. What have you told my chef that has her thinking your a victim in this betrothal?" He gave her a hard look. "I didn't have to tell her anything. It's obvious to everyone but you and my brothers that this contract is a contradiction to what I want." She tossed down her fork and napkin and stood up, turning to walk out the door. She found it locked. Not wanting to stay here, but not wanting to reveal her Gifts, she pulled out the lock pick kit she carried on the inside of her thigh. Pretending to pick the lock, she hunted for the locking mechanis,. When she tried to unlock the door, she slammed up against a barrier so strong she fell back in alarm. Her lock pick tools were pushed out of the keyhole and placed back into the pouch by an unseen force. She watched it wizz past her head and into Dimitri's wating hand. Eyes wide open, she scrambled to her feet and looked at him. Shaking her head in disbelief, she backed up into the door. He placed the kit in his lap before returning to his food, chewing slowly on part of a meatball. She struggled with the door, trying to get it open before she pounded on it, shouting for help. "Somebody help! Please, anybody! Get me out of here!" She tugged and pounded on the door with all her strength. "HELP!" She froze when she felt him behind her. Concentrating, she sent a sharp burst of energy into his head, her aim at his cerebrum cortex. The burst of energy supercharged his senses past the point of tolernace, even for her family, and set it on overload, causing intense disorientation. Dimitri cried out softly with the pain and gripped his head. It gave her the opening she needed. Tayla darted to the other side of the room to another door there. it was unlocked. She yanked it open and darted inside the room, already spotting the other door. She rushed through it and slammed the door shut and locked it. She turned and quickly looked around the room, going to the one other door to lock it. But in oder to get to it, she had to go around the bed. Bed? Tayla stopped in shock not two feet from the bed and finally took in her surroundings. It was his bedroom and it screamed dark, seductive desire. Completely male and dominant. Tayla took in her surroundings as she realized something. this wasn't the room she had first woken up in two weeks ago. This was his real room. The other room must be a spare when this monstrosity was being cleaned. She was still standing there staring at the bed when she felt something stirring behind her. Before she could turn to find out who it was, she was picked up and thrown onto the overly large bed, bouncing once before landing in the middle. She rolled from her side onto her back, only to come face to face with a hairless naked chest. Dimitri pushed her down on the bed, following her down so that they lay chest to chest. He ground his hips against her. His erection pressed between the juncture of her thighs through his tux pants. They were all that was left of his attire and Tayle shuddered at what it meant for her. ******************** He slowly pulled the straps off her shoulders, down her arms and off. still pulling on the dress, he peeled the flimsy material away from her breasts, bareing them to his gaze. He moaned when he saw her nippled pucker under his stare and quickly lowered his head to latch onto one. Dimitri sucked at the bead of flesh, nipping gently on the bundle of nerves. She moaned and arched her back, pressing closer to his mouth at it moved over her aching breasts. Tayla tangled her hands in his hair, pressing him closer as she arched up. She was so concentrated on his mouth, she didn't notice his hand trailing down her body, pulling her gown off. As the dress slipped off her legs and Dimitri tossed it aside, he realized his Tayla hadn't worn and panties with the dress. He lifted his head from ehr breasts and kissed her, trying to gain control and resist the temptation to rip off the rest of his clothes and settle between her olive colored thighs. He moaned when her hand brushed across his erection. "Your going to kill me, Tayla." He whispered the words wickedly in her ear. "I'm burning up." "Then burn, my Prince, and know what you do to me," she whispered back before wrapping her hand around his cock. He gasped, not understanding how she had gotten ahold of him. He hadn't felt his pants unbutton and her hand sure as hell hadn't slipped down his waistband. He was slowly losing his ablilty to think, so he wrapped his hand around her wrist, stopping her hand from moving. He looked down and discovered she had only unzipped his pants, his hard cock having already pushed through the slit in his boxers. He laughed and then pulled her hand away slowly before raising up onto his knees to put himself away. She whimpered at his actions and rubbed her thighs together to help relieve the pressure. Dimitri smiled at his Tayla show of impatience. "Hot, Tayla?" He whispered in her ear, one of his hands cupping her breast, "Do you need me? Do you need to feel me dip my fingers into your tight wet sheath?" His fingers rubbed and flicked at her nipple before sliding down her body to cup her mound. Just cupping her he could feel how wet she was. Her scent was so intoxicating, he dare not breathe for fear of losing control. To keep it, he buried his face againsts her neck, breathing deep to take in the delicated lavender perfume, her favorite, he'd given her with the dress. His fingers probed her gently, searching for her hidden nub, rubbing her softly to make the fire rage hotter in her. She could barely take it anymore. Her hips lifted in blant invitation. he knew what she wanted. He had to know. Otherwise he wouldn't be touching her so intimately. When her hips lifted, he groaned. Oh he knew what she wanted. He didn't have to read her mind to know, his Tayla's body was expressing it's needs lound and clear. With an oath, he sank two of his broad fingers into her tight little cunt. It was then she realized his full intentions. He wasn't going to make love to her. He only wanted to show her who owned her now, who she belonged to. In his passion, he had let his guard down, thinking she wouldn't do anything while he pleasured her. He thought that if he showed her pleasure and denied himself and her of his own, he'd teach her that she was no longer free. That even though she was forced, he loved her and wanted her love in return. But she wasn't free anymore. He was wrong. He didn't own her and he sure as hell didn't love her. Even if he did, she would never love him. Fed up with his presumptions and beliefs, she shoved him off her with surprising strength, using a short jab to his balls to throw him off as she lept from the bed, snatching her dress as she ran from his room. She didn't stop running until she was safely locked in her own room again. Doubled over in pain, he could only watch through watering eyes as his love left. He didn't understand what had gone wrong. He plan had been perfect. Yes, they had skipped dinner and gone straight to bed, but she had been to dazed with pleasure to notice what he was doing. He should have listened to Levi when he said you couldn't pull one over on her. She was too sensitive to the things around her. In too much pain to go after her, he shut and locked his door using his Gifts before passing out. ******************** (8 hours later) She was still gone. He didn't know if she was at her old apartment, her brothers house, or out on the roads. He could rule out the roads because her bike was still here. He was waiting on his man to report on whether or not she was at her old apartment. If she wasn't there, that left her brothers. If she was at her apartment, he'd go retrieve her. But if she was at her brothers, he'd have to wait for her to come to him. But he wasn't sure he could wait. He needed to speak to her, explain to her why he needed her love and her freedom. Shadows of Life Ch. 02 Shit, he thought. There was a knock at the door and he bid them to enter. "Sir." "She is at her brothers, then?" Dimitri asked the tall lean man who had entered. "Yes, sir." Dimtri would sigh before turning to the man. "Thank you, Gregori." "I'm sorry, sir. I know that it will be difficult to see her and even more so to get her back." Gregori bowed his head. "Is there anything I can do?" "You have done so much for me already, Gregori. I cannot ask you to do this, too." Stepping closer to the man, Dimitri rested his hand on his shoulder. "This is something I must do if I am to prove to her that I need her with me." With a smile of understanding, he bowed his head again and took his leave of his Prince. How well he knew how stubborn women were. His own wife, Katja, had lead him on a merry chase for two years before accepting his proposal of marraige. But this girl woould be harder for his Prince to get ahold of. He wished his Prince the best of luck in getting her. For Miss. Silvanus was sure to destroy Dimitri if given the chance. For Dimitri's sake, he hoped he knew just how volatile and unstable his bride was. ******************** Knocking on the door to Fury Manor was the hardest thing he had ever done. Dimitri was scared out of his mind. All because of his errant bride. He stood at the door for a full 20 minutes before he got up the courage to lift his hand and use the silver knocker. Would they let him in to see Tayla? Would she talk to him? Hell, would they even open the door? He soon got the answer to his last question when the door swung open and tayla's second oldest brother, R'ale, glared at him from the doorway. "What do you want?" R'ale's voice practically dripped acid as he spoke. "I.. I would like to see Tayla." God, he hoped he could see her. "She doesn't want anything to do with you, Prince Dimitri." With that, R'ale slammed the door in his face. All Dimitri could do was stand ther in shock. Not because R'ale had treated him like that, but because his Tayla hated him now. He was still standing there when a few minutes later the door opened again; this time by Levi. "I'm sorry for my brothers behavior, Dimitri. He is just a little upset at the moment." Levi stood back to allow him in, closing the door behind the man. "No, it's okay. I understand his reaction. I would have done the same or worse if someone had hurt Tayla," he relied as he handed a maid his coat when she came forward to relieve him of it. "It still does not excuse his behavior," Levi retored with a small frown. "He is protective of her, Levi. You can not make him like me." "No, but I sure as hell can make him treat you with respect." "She hates me now, doesn't she?" "Now more than ever. What were you thinking Dimitri?" Levi began to lead him up the stairs. "You can't force her like that." "I know. But I wasn't forcing her. I just wanted to show her I loved her and things were going great. Then she flipped out, elbowed me in the nuts, and ran off." When they reached the top of the stairs, instead of leading him right, Levi went left. "Levi, your going the wrong way." "No I'm not." "Yes you are. tayla's room is that way," he stated, pointing down the hall in the opposite direction Levi was going. "Yes, but Tayla is this way. We emptied her room, remember?" "Oh. Right." Felling like an idiot, he followed Levi to a dark oak door at the end of the hallway. R'ale was standing in front of the door, trying to persuade Tayla to let him in. She just kept yelling and throwing heavy non-breakable objects at the door. "Still having a fit?" Levi asked his brother. "Yes. She isn't likely to let him in," he replied with acid glare at Dimitri. "She let me in for a few minutes." "Yeah, and then tossed you out on your ass." Dimitri had to cover his mouth and turned away to keep from laughing. R'ale was sort of grinning because it was funny. Levi, however, looked mutinous. "It's not funny," he growled. "Yes it is, Levi." Dimitri finally got a hold himself and patted his shoulder. "You got thrown out by a girl who's not even half your weight. It's hilarious." "Then lets see you do better." "Fine. Just keep quiet, alright." "This aught to be good," R'ale said to Levi as he moved away from the door to let Dimitri stand in front of it. Dimitri cleared his throat and knocked on the door. "Tayla?" His answer was another thud against the door. "Tayla, Mrs. berry is here. She asked me if I could bring her here. She wants to talk to you." "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" Tayla screamed through the door. Dimitri turned and grinned at them before opening his mouth to speak. Only this time it wasn't his voice. It was that of a womans. The voice was that of someone who was naturally cheery and usually didnt worry. Levi and R'ale gaped at him. "Miss. Tayla? Hunny, may I talked to you? I would like to speak to you about what happened. I know what Dimitri did was wrong, but in truth, he only wanted to show you he loves you." Dimitri waited a few seconds. "He really is a nice man, Miss. Tayla. And you could always beat him up if he is mean again." They all heard a small giggle from behind the door. "Now, deary, it's time to come out of that room and come home. I am cooking clams and muscles tonight. I wouldn't want all that delicious food to go to waste. Dimitri doesn't know how to eat properly. You should teach him how to eat more, too." The door slowly opened and Tayla's tear stained face appeared. ******************** Dimitri used Tayla's shock at not seeing his cook there and barged into the room, picking her up and slamming her against the wall nexy to the open door, using his body to pin her there. He had moved so fast that it took a few seconds for everyone to react. Levi and R'ale rushed to crowd the doorway and Tayla let out an ear piercing scream before punching him in the jaw. "Put me down, you big oaf." "Nope. I'm not going to do it, Tayla. Your going to stay right here pressed between me and this wall, until you agree to come home with me." "No. Let me go, you bastard, or you'll lose a limb." "Are you threatening me, Tayla Hunter? Because I must warn you that I don't like threats." Levi and R'ale saw the look in his eyes, looked at each other, grinned and left the room, closing the door behind them. "Hey! Don't leave me with this mad man. Levi! R'ale! Let go of me, you rapist!" Tayla screamed. "Rapist?" Dimitri's voice was soft and calm as he spoke the word. But underneath lay ice cold fury. "Rapist? You accuse me of being a rapist?" "You forced me!" Tayla screamed again, trying to bring the house down on his head. "Release me, you monster!" Fed up with her name calling and accusations, he growled at her, the sound that of a lion when angry. This made tayla freeze in her struggles and gave Dimitri the opportunity to turn and walk the few steps to the bed before tossing her onto it. Tayla only sat there staring at him. "You want a rapist? Fine. You want a monster? No problem. I can give you both." With that, he pounced on her, pinning her to the bed. He locked the door using his mind while his hands tore her clothes from her body. He ripped and tore lace, silk, and denim as she screamed at him; shoving and kicking him to get away. But he didn't listen, didn't notice the bloody furrows down his arms and back. He didn't care that her body trembled or that fear and hate filled her eyes. All he could do was stare at her body and lust after her. He hated it. He hated having to treat her like this and force her to his will. But he feared for himself, feared for his future if he didn't make her his forever. He back-handed her just hard enough to daze her, allowing him time to pull off his own clothes. But as he settled between her thighs, things went awary from his intention to humiliate and humble her. She'd had enough of this and she would make him pay. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, centered on her target and attacked. His sharp cry pierced her senses and she attacked again and again, keeping his defenses down and giving her time to push him over and try to run from the room. His head pounded and throbbed from her assault. But thankfully he had still retained his hold on the door locks. so his Tayla was still in the room. He sook the pain from his head and threw his defenses back up and he rolled to his knees. He could hear Tayla screaming at the top of her lungs for her brothers. "Levi!Levi! Help! Levi, he's going to kill me! R'ale! Where are you? R'ale!" She pounded on the door, desperate to get out. He'd come up behind her silently, enjoying the sight of her body quivering with the effort to keep pounding on the door. He smiled, then pressed her against the door gently, no longer interested in forcing her to his will. "It's a good thing I had the forethought to muffle the door. We don't want your brothers to hear us, do we?" He whispered in her ear as she sobbed hysterically, tears streaking down her face. "Please don't do this. I beg you," she pleaded. " I promise I'll be good. I won't hurt you anymore, or run away. I won't be mean or make nasty comments." "You can't keep that promise, Tayla. You and I both know that. And even if you could, how can I take you at your word? I need something to know you mean it." He knew he was forcing her to accept him, forcing her into submission, but he didn't think she would come to him wilingly. He had to show her that no matter what, he loved her. Turning her around, he slowly kissed her, invading her senses until her felt her go limp against him. "I have to know I can trust you, honey. But you haven't shown me that I can. I can only show you how much I need you and hope you will be mine in return." With that, he picked her up, cradling her lithe form against his. She felt so good, it was getting harder and harder to keep himself from ravishing her. Laying her down on the bed gently, he stood to admire her. Her body shuddered under his intense gaze. It made her afraid for the first time in her life. The hunger she saw there made her all the more frightened of him. Tayla lifted her arms in an attempt to cover herself. She did not succeed. He caught her arms and pinned them above her head as he lay beside her. His larger body dwarfted hers, and it terrified her. Dimitri could feel her fear rolling off her in waves and it struck him hard. He didn't know what to do to calm her. Careful to take it slow, he lowered his head to hers, resting his lips upon her gently. The shock to his system was wholly unexpected and he gasped, tilting his head to turn the kiss bruising and passionate. the feeling of drowning pierced through his haze and he lifted his head, struggling to breathe. "Tayla..." he whimpered. Her head shook back and forth as she let tears fall down her cheeks. Each tear tore at his heart. "Oh, Tayla." He released her wrists and cupped her cheeks to kiss her gently. "My Tayla. My beautiful, sexy, stubborn woman. Let me love you. Let me take you to the sky and beyond, to a place where only the greatest of lovers go. Where you cannot help but love each other always and forever. Let me take you there, Tayla. Let me show you I love you." He waited hesitantly for her answer. It was hard to do. Tayla wasn't immune to him and he knew it. He could force her to his will, make her accept him and give him her innocence. But he needed her love more than he needed her body. He needed to feel her heart pound with the need to need him and only him. "I can't, Dimitri. I can't trust you not to hurt me," she whispered. "Please, I'm not meant for this." His eyes feel shut at her words. Heart thudding with hurt and rage, he tried to gain control of himself, but lost. Rolling on top of her, he pinned her down. "You are meant for this, for me. You were more than eager last night before you ran here. And you loved it when I touched you. Now I'm going to prove to you that you were made for me," he growled down at her. Following his promise, he crushed her mouth under his, sealing his vow. His hips ground against hers as she struggled to push him away. But he was stronger and heavier than her. He could not be moved, could not be led astray from his path. Soon, she could no longer breathe properly. His kiss was like a drug; so addicting and oh so good. She was swimming in a sea of pleasure and it was because of the hard burly male laying atop her. His hips kept grinding and pushing against hers, careful not to allow himself the pleasure of slipping inside her. Though that is what she needed most, she knew he would push at her until she was mad. How she would live through this torture, she didn't know. He could feel her, bucking and twisting under him. tayla was slowly falling into the abyss where only pleasure reigned. He couldn't help but whisper in her ear of his love and his need for her as his hand trailed across her breasts, stomach and hips. When his fingers slowly trailed up the inside of her thigh, she went wild with need. And he was more than happy to deliever it to her. He cupped her gently, gasping when he felt how hot and wet she was for him. He almost lost control. He slipped a finger inside her and groaned. "Your so wet, Tayla. So wet. It's getting harder and harder to be gentle with you." As he spoke, he worked a second and third finger into her slowly. He worked his fingers in and out of her body, thrying to prepare her to accept his hard prick. It was pure hell on his body to remain still when she was so ready to recieve him. And then she spoke. "Don't be gentle, Dimitri. Don't go slow," shewhispered to him. "I need you. I need to feel you inside of me. Take me, Dimitri. Or I'll do it for you!" He words washed over him like and inferno. Damn, but this woman could tempt a saint. He cried softly, tears slipping down his face as joy and need slammed into him. He could wait no longer. Slipping his fingers out, he settled between her legs. His cock pressed urgently against her as she wrapped her legs around him. She bucked against him in a frantic attempt to embed him deep within her. It was because of this that he lost all control. With and oath, he braced himself on his fists and thrust home, pushing into her like a battering ram, tearing past her hymen to get deeper inside her. Her scream was the only thing that stopped him from being a beast and brutally taking her. "Oh, Tayla. I'm so sorry honey, " he whispered. Kissing her forehead, he wrapped his arms around her trying to comfort her. "It's going to be okay. I know that hurt baby and I am sorry I was so rough." He held her as she trembled, remaining as still as he could so her body would accept him. As he body slowly stopped shaking, he slowly eased out of her, wincing when he saw the blood covering his cock and the insides of her thighs. It was that blood that made him vow never to touch her again. He left the bed to go to the ajoining bathroom. Closing the door and locking it, he leaned against the sink and let the tears gathered in his eyes fall as his heart broke. After a few moments, Dimitri took a washcloth from the linen cupboard and soaked it in hot water. He wiped the tears off his face and then the blood off his arms, back, and manhood. He rinsed it off then soaked it in hot water again. He unlocked the door and left the bathroom, cloth in hand. tayla was still crying softly, the tears running in rivers down her cheeks as she pressed both hands to her stomach, The sight made him want to cry again and he quickly crossed to the bed. He sat down next to her, clutching the dripping cloth in his hand. "Tayla>" He touched her shoulder. Seeing her look up at him, he smilled and pressed her onto her back. He gently nudged her legs open and pressed the hot cloth against her, letting the heat dissipate some of the pain. She she began to relax, he began to gently rub the cloth against her womanhood, cleaning away the evidence of his brutality. He moved down her thighs, massaging them as he went to keep her relaxed. "Better?" he asked softly. She nodded. "Thank you Dimitri." He smiled sadly and went back into the bathroom to put the cloth in the hamper. He walked back to the bed and picked Tayla up, using his mind to pull the covers down before he put her down again. He curled up next to her, turning her on her side so they were spooning. He stroked her side softly as she fell asleep, watching her hands curl up by her head. He slept with a smile on his face. ******************** R'ale gritted his teeth together as pain tore through his abodomin. He didn't understand what was wrong. He looked up from the floor as Levi stumbled through the door, clutching his stomach. "What the hell is wrong?" Levi bit out. "What did you do R'ale?" "I didn't do anything, stupid." "Then why the hell do I hurt and your on the floor?" They both glared at each other before, suddenly, the same thought entered their heads. "Tayla," they whispered in unison. Levi stumbled out the door as R'ale tried to get to his feet to follow. He chased after Levi, reaching the door to the guest bedroom at the same time. But both were hesitant to open it, afraid of what they'd find. "Maybe it was an accident," R'ale offered, trying to deny the obvious. "No, he took her. There's no way he didn't." "Then open the damn door, Levi. He's hurt her and he's going to pay for it." R'ale shoved his older sibling out of his way to get to his younger. The instant he flung open the door and rushed in, his hands had covered in orange flames, ready to defend his sister and kill the mortal. But his anger, and the flames, faded at what he saw. Levi had followed him in, his own hands alight to put a stop to any foolishness his brother committed, but he too stopped at the scene they were witnessing. They were sleeping! Why had they neen in so much pain if they were asleep? "Stay here," Levi commanded as he went into the bathroom. He noticed the sink was wet and searched the hamper, finding the still bloody cloth. When he came back out with it, he found R'ale clutching the tattered remains of tayla's jeans and corset, shock and fear in his eyes as he showed them to Levi. Levi, in turn, held up the blood red cloth with a finger. "Bastard," R'ale whispered, rage filling his eyes before he tried to lunge at the bed. He was stopped in hsi tracks by a barrier that shimmered blue where R'ale had struck it. He beat on it with his fists. The constant strain on the barrier awoke Dimitri from his slumber and he jack knifed into a sitting position, his left hand turning blue in preparation to defend his mate. It vanished as he identified R'ale and Levi. He took one look at the items still in their hands and the condemnation in their eyes, and the barrier dropped. He left the bed slowly and quickly left the room, clothing himself as he went. The two men followed him. "You sick BASTARD!" R'ale tossed Tayla's ruined clothed at him and followed it up with a ball of fire thrown recklesslt at him. "How could you hurt her like that?" Dimitri merely waved a hand in the air to disperse the fireball before answering. "It had to be done. The only blood on that cloth that belongs to her is from her virginity." It was then that they noticed the dark vicious marks down his bare arms and shoulders. "R'ale does have reason to protest, Dimitri. She was in enough pain that we felt it, too. The only way that's possible is if you forced her," Levi charged as he dropped the cloth on the floor with the clothes. "I didn't force her. I was just too rough with her. I wish I could change how I took her, but I can't. It's forbidden. And both of you know this. I can only make it up to her. But after that, I'm not even sure I should touch her. I couldn't even keep going, she was in so much pain. I feel like shit for it. Part of me is still pissed at you, R'ale, for interrupting us two weeks ago when I tried then. It would have spared her a whole lot of pain. And she wouldn't be here if you hadn't come home so early. She'd be at home with me." Shadows of Life Ch. 02 "And how is this any of my fault?" "She was ovulating that night, STUPID. I was trying to get her pregnant. Now i have to wait until she'll accept me again," Dimitri growled. "How will getting her pregnant help you" R'ale retorted. "Tayla won't risk a childs life. The child ties her to him and gives him time to properly court her," Levi whispered in surprise at the words. "It might have worked, too, but Tayla can be unpredictable at times." "It doesn't matter now, Levi. I don't think she'll ever accept me again," Dimitri said, his head hung in despair. "But, Dimitri. She has to. You know what will happen if she doesn't. It's not just you at risk if you fail to capture her heart." Levi started pacing across his office, racking his brain for a way to help his long time friend. "What do you mean by that?" R'ale interjected. He had no idea what they were talking about. Levi stopped his pacing and looked at Dimitri. "Do you remember our family history, R'ale?" Levi asked. "Most of it, why? What does our past have to do with Tayla?" "What do you remember about Elias and Kida?" "Well, Elias was one of us. A Shadow of Life. But he was from a different clan. Kida was a Hunter. Part of the Fury clan," R'ale said. "Don't remember much else except they fell in love and wanted to get married. Some girl from Elias' clan didn't like that and wanted him for herself. So she curse Kida, or tried to." "And it backfired on her, right?" "Yeah, the girl died. But she was a seer and left behind a warning or something." "A prophecy. The Prophect of the Fury clan," Levi corrected. "Familia Erinys, per omnia saecula ligatum et in tempus, florebunt et vigent. Sed tempus praetereat, et cadet familia memoria. Sed non a history. Erinys occurrat Tourment et fundentur sanguis. Et committunt uni homini duo partes ipsius totius. Visiones et ostendam Tourmentor via, et Erinys fugiet veritatem. Debet ipsi defecerint vicerit, copulabis amor et libido, operiri pulvere terrae periculo," Dimitri recieted in flawless Latin. R'ale stared at Dimitri, in shock that he knew their clan's prophecy by heart in it's original form. R'ale had only learned it in Gaelic and the Arabic dialects. Only Levi wanted to study Latin. "The clan of Fury, forever bound in time, shall flourish and trhive. But time will pass, and the clans will fade from memory. But not from history. Fury meets Tourment and blood shall be shed. One woman and one man will join together, two halves of the same whole. Visions will show the Tourmentor the way, and Fury will shun the truth. Should they fail to overcome, clans will perish under Hunter hands. Join the two in love and lust, or risk the Earth be covered in dust," Levi and R'ale recited the translation in unison. "Okay, so Furians are cursed. So what?" R'ale huffed in frustration. "You don't get it, R'ale," Levi answered angrily. "The prophecy is about Tayla. Tayla and Dimitri. Don't you ever pay attention?" "No, that's your job," R'ale said sarcastically. Levi growled and lunged at him. Dimitri got to Levi first and held him back from pummeling his mouthy sibling. "Tourment's have their own prophecy. Very similar to yours but given by the same woman. Ekaterina," Dimitri told R'ale. "How do you know her name? It's not in our records anywhere," R'ale asked. "Because she was a Tourment. So was Elias," Dimitri said, dropping a small bomd on the two brothers. "You never told me that," Levi accused. "I'm not supposed to. We made an agreement with the Fury clan when Elias and Kida were married. Ekaterina's name would be eradicated from history," Dimtri explained. "Oh, that make's perfect sense," R'ale said, rolling his eyes. "Then why did you tell us?" Dimitri glared at R'ale and it was Levi's turn to hold him back. "Because, dummkopf, it was also agreed that when the time of the Great Joining came, all records were to be unsealed and known to both clans." "The Great Joining being..." R'ale said. "When the two clan prophecies came to pass and clan Fury and clan Tourment joined together once more in marraige," Levi answered. "I still don't understand how Tayla has anything to do with it." "Because if Tayla doesn't marry Dimitri, and fall in love with him, she will destroy the planet and everything on it. She is the Hunter hands." "When Ekaterina tried to curse Kida, she violated her own destiny. Her life was forfeit in payment of the curse. It just wasn't the curse she had in mind," Dimitri explained further. "Tayla has a dormant Gift, as all female descendants of Kida and Elais have. But only one would be able to use that gift, if she wasn't anchored by a Tourment. A Tourmentor to be exact. She can't just marry anyone from the Tourment clan." "But how do you know the prophecies are coming to pass now?" "Because the Tourmentors are all seers. Each Tourmentor has their first vision on their sixth brithday that will show them who they are supposed to marry. My father had his vision of my mother, who was a Sokir of the Odavi clan," Dimitri explained. "The prophecies both say that the Tourmentor with have a vision of their intended and that their mate is the Hunter. I had my vision of Tayla and once my father recognized the second crest in my vision, we knew that the prophecies were coming to pass. Thats why they agreed to the betrothal so quickly." "So your saying, your the only thing that stands between her and the rest of the world?" R'ale asked, finally connecting the dots. "Yes." "Oh..." R'ale abruptly sat down in the chair behind him. "I'll stop telling her not to marry you. I'm on your side now." "Well that's comforting to know. Now that I have your permission-" Dimitri stopped midsentence as the door opened.