lily harper 04.5 - the bladesmith (3 page)

“Aye, an’ ye allowed that power tae go tae yer head. Ye allowed it tae corroopt ye an’ ye lost yer way,” I rebuked her with no amount of apology or concern. I was not afraid of her. I’d known torture on numerous occasions throughout my indescribably long life, so whatever else she had in store for me was no more than child’s play. Nothing this woman could do would ever break me.

“So you decided to do away with me,” she continued, shaking her head as her jaw tightened. It looked as if her face were hollowing out right before my eyes.

“Ye left meh nae other alternative,” I replied flatly. “Ah warned ye. Ah told ye ye were losin’ control, that ye were lettin’ the darkness take oover. Boot ye didnae listen. Instead ye tried tae end meh so, aye, Ah had nae alternative.”

“There is always an alternative,” she barked at me, her eyes raging with something fierce and wild. Perhaps it was anger. “You and I were meant to be together, bladesmith, you know that as well as I do,” she hissed. Taking the few steps that separated us, she leaned down on her haunches, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at her.

“There is nae sooch ah thing as fate or destiny,” I replied, returning her glare. “Ah was never meant tae be with naeone.”

She didn’t respond, but there was something in her eyes that revealed not only her rage, but also her sadness. “We were happy together,” she said simply as she released my chin. She continued to ensnare me with her eyes. “We ruled the Underground City … and together, there wasn’t anything we couldn’t accomplish.”

My stomach churned as the words emptied from her mouth. They were said in Lily’s voice and they came from Lily’s lips. But it was the words, themselves, that caused me some level of chagrin. The reason being that this information was something I had never shared with Lily before. As it was, I could not help but wonder whether she was privy to our conversation or not.

“Oh, come now,” Persephone said with a feigned laugh as she pulled away from me. “You suddenly look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Her left eyebrow rose as she continued to study me. “Ah, I am beginning to understand,” she said as she started to nod in earnest. “You never told the girl that you were
the
Master of the Underground City before Alaire, did you?” She didn’t wait for me to respond, but sighed dramatically. “No, you did not. I can see as much by the shocked expression in your eyes.”

Much though I did not want to admit it, what Persephone said was true. All of it. My title of Master of the Underground City was one I had proudly held for centuries. It was also the biggest secret I had kept from Lily. Of course, I wanted to tell her. There were moments when the need to tell her grew all-encompassing, and the truth was right on the tip of my tongue … But I never mustered my courage long enough to actually deliver the words. I never was able to tell Lily how scarred and despicable I really was.

I could never tell Lily the truth because I was afraid. I couldn’t fathom seeing the disappointment or rejection that I was certain would be evident in her eyes. Instead, I kept all of it safely concealed and continued to live a lie. For me, it was the only way. I could not accept losing Lily, and I knew that telling her the truth would result in exactly that. Those were consequences I was not willing to accept.

“Don’t look so out of sorts,” Persephone replied as she shook her head and frowned at me. “Your secret is safe with me,” she purred, her eyes spitting indignant fire. “The girl’s soul is weak when compared to mine. She cannot fight or resist me. In a fairly short time, I will completely possess her body. She will be nothing more than its former tenant.”

Of course, her words only stoked the fires of rage inside me. My fury seized me, making it difficult to breathe. My hands turned into fists and I prayed for the chance to kill Persephone again. This time, I would not fail. The traces of Donnchadh’s red hot anger loomed now, however, a shadow of my own. I had to gain control of myself and calm down. I could not allow Persephone to affect me as she was.

Best her at her own game,
I thought to myself.
Dinnae allow her tae win. Ye are Lily’s only chance left an’ ye moost fight fer her.

“Ye havenae drank from meh in ah long while,” I said, forcing the words out. I was still not persuaded my blood would help aid Lily in her fight to reinstate control over her body, but I could think of nothing else that would.

“Your promise of immortality,” Persephone started as her eyes revealed the conflict she was experiencing. The question over whether or not drinking my blood would offer her the chance to live forever must have bothered her. “I cannot help but question the validity of your proposal,” she started. “And why you would make me such an offer in the first place, given your obvious abhorrence toward me.”

I shrugged, becoming increasingly hopeful that she would believe my explanation. “Ye have meh where ye want meh,” I answered with a frown. I leaned forward to draw attention to my bound hands behind me and the chains rattled with the effort as if emphasizing my statement, as if calling attention to themselves. “An’ as ye well know, Ah amnae ah man that can be shackled fer long.”

“Your imprisonment is causing you to suffer, is it?” she asked with an obvious smile. I didn’t answer, but held her gaze defiantly. She shrugged. “Just because I take whatever I want from you does not guarantee you anything. Surely, you must realize as much?”

I nodded. “Aye. Ah’m simply requestin’ that ye consider meh.”

“Consider you? For what?” she snapped back.

Tilting my head to the side, I took my time responding. I wanted her to know I was not desperate, and could maintain my serenity. “Whit will ye dae, now that life has been restored tae ye?”

She furrowed her brow and appeared perplexed by my question. “What do you mean, what will I do? I will lead, as I have always done!”

I nodded to let her know her answer was as I expected. “An’ ye will dae so oan yer own?”

“If need be,” she answered immediately.

“An’ whit of Alaire?” I asked with a slight smile. I was glad to let her know I enjoyed stating the obvious wrench in her future plans.

“To hell with Alaire!” she exclaimed, getting upset. “I don’t need him! I will either depose him and take my rightful place as leader; or perhaps, I will ally myself with him. First, I must decide which avenue is best for me. I have yet to make my decision.”

I nodded, loath to inform her that Alaire would never allow her to depose him. Moreover, I suspected, no, I was convinced, Alaire was the puppet master behind Persephone’s reanimation. That meant he had plans for her. I was sure his plans did not include abdication so she could take her “rightful” place.

“An’ whit o’ meh?” I asked with a shrug.

“What about you?” she repeated the question, her eyes blazing. “You can’t possibly think of offering your services to me after everything else that’s happened?”

“An’ why nae?” I asked. “Ye know Ah am twice the leader Alaire is; an’ ye also know ye cannae dae it without meh.”

“I wouldn’t be so quick to gloat,” she said as she shook her head. “I am completely capable and very strong. I don’t need you, or Alaire.”

“Aye, that may be true,” I rebutted. “Boot ye still dinnae have whit either Alaire or Ah have.”

“Which is … what?” she demanded.

“Eternal life,” I answered instantly. “An’ oontil ye do, ye cannae compete.”

“And my immortality would come from you?” she asked with a slight laugh. I simply nodded. She began to shake her head, looking affronted and irritated. “You’re offering me immortality? In return for what? My permission for you to rule again beside me?”

I nodded quickly, but didn’t say anything. She began to laugh, and it was a snide, unpleasant sound.

“Surely, you must realize I can simply take whatever I want from you without paying you a farthing in return?” The laugh died on her lips and her eyes narrowed as she stared at me intently. “
You
are
my
prisoner! I owe you nothing! I will take whatever I choose to take from you! Therein ends our association! You will never subjugate me again! Never!”

THREE

I was not certain how many moons passed before Persephone visited me again. In that time, I remained completely alone in my prison. After Persephone relocated the angel, I did not see nor hear from him again. Although it surprised me to admit, I actually missed his inane conversation. Imbecilic as it was, at least it was better than the uninterrupted silence that pervaded the cold, rough walls of my penitentiary.

What was far worse, though, was the fact that I had not bled myself in far too long. I could feel Donnchadh’s strength growing as my own dwindled, day by day. I did not know how much longer I could hold the raging spirit back. It was now simply a matter of time …

At the sound of the heavy, iron door opening with a groan, I shifted my weight from one pained arse cheek to the other. I had been stuck in this position of my back against the wall and my arse cheeks planted on the cold stone floor for so long now, that my legs and arms ached while the rest of my body was numb.

Persephone appeared in front of the iron bars, dressed as I knew she would be—in a long, body-revealing dress that outlined the swells of her thighs, as well as her prominent breasts. She was nothing short of stunning. Rather, Lily was nothing short of stunning.

As soon as Lily’s name crossed my mind, a bomb of anxiety dropped in the pit of my stomach, nearly suffocating me with its melancholy. I had to ignore my feelings because they would do me no good. Not now.

“I have reconsidered your offer,” Persephone announced. She glared down at me from eyes that once were emerald, but now were dark as tar.

“An’ which offer would that be?” I asked, knowing the answer. But I was in the mood for a randy game of back and forth.

She did not reply right away as she entered the skeleton key into the lock on the door, cranking it to the right. Slowly pushing the steel-barred door open, she showed herself inside. I noticed with interest that her sidekick, Saxon, was nowhere to be seen. This revelation pleased me greatly. It was easier to manipulate people when they were beyond the counsel of others. Persephone did not bother to lock the door again, but approached me as stealthily as a predatory cat.

“I want your immortality,” she said abruptly.

I nodded, but did not reply. This was exactly what I hoped for. Sharing my blood was the only way I could help Lily. Of course, I was unaware of how much my blood could help her, if at all. In my two thousand years of existence, I had yet to encounter a situation quite like the one I currently found myself in.

“Verra good,” I answered with a brief nod, putting a damper on my enthusiasm. I did not want Persephone to grow suspicious of my motivation in offering her my blood. “This coomes at ah good time.”

“And why is that?” she barked at me as she crossed her arms over her bosom. The dim light of the torches on the walls outside my cell reflected the steel blade in her hand. She had come prepared …

“Ah have nae bled mahself in tae long,” I answered, straining to keep my hatred for her in check. It would do no good for her to witness it.

“So what?”

“Sae Donnchadh’s contaminants are overtakin’ meh,” I finished tersely.

“Donnchadh!” she said with a laugh, waving an unconcerned hand in my direction. “Am I to understand, then, that you are still too weak to control him?” She shook her head as she clicked her tongue against her front teeth. “Even after all this time?”

“Ah wouldnae call it weakness, lass,” I replied with a frown. “Boot Ah would call yer visit today … fortuitous all the same.”

“For me,” she nearly interrupted me. “As to you and that unruly spirit living within you, I do not care whether he possesses you completely.” Then she shrugged. “I should imagine his company would certainly be … more interesting.”

I smiled and nodded even though she had no idea what she was saying. “Aye. Mayhap ye would.”

She was quiet as she studied me for the next few seconds. “I do not enjoy this,” she said at last, her voice hollow.

I cocked my head to the side and smiled. “
Ye
dinnae enjoy it?” I repeated with a chuckle. “Ye arenae the one bein’ bled! Ah promise ye, Ah enjoy it far less!”

“I was not referring to that!” she nearly spat at me. Then the scowl on her face softened. “I was talking about this,” she said as she pointed from herself to me and back to herself again. “I do not enjoy harboring so much … hatred for you. That harsh feeling is so alien to me.”

I nodded. “Then dinnae harbor it.”

“Were it so simple,” she said wistfully. “But you have brought me to this place,” she continued, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. “You have brought me to a place I was never meant to go.” I didn’t respond, so she continued. “You and I were supposed to love each other. Forever.”

“Eternities change,” I replied. I was not intending for my voice to sound so icy, but there was only so much I could restrain.

“Your
plans changed,” she argued as she approached me, holding the blade out in front of her as if to threaten me with it. When she was close enough, she slammed the blade beneath my chin, forcing my head upward and into an uncomfortable position. Then she held her wrist there, making me look in her eyes.