Alien's Bride 1-3 (44 page)

Devroth shoved me with a brutal strike between my shoulder blades before I could take in more.
 
We descended down a steep rock road where more demon soldiers were clustered on landings.
 
These were similar to Haralzin, except half of them had thick long dragon tails spilling from their backsides.
 
Devroth went to another grey-skinned demon and gave a report about me that I only half listened to.
 

I realized that what I had thought was the far wall of the village was actually a fortress.
 
It was the most massive thing I’d ever beheld.
 
It dwarfed the village beneath it, which was surely just as large as Trummel.
 
There were spires and jagged towers along the high edges of the fortress, but the bulk of its blackness was too dark for my eyes to discern.

When I ceased trying to fathom it I noticed that the dozen demon soldiers about us were ogling me with wet mouths and deep pants of arousal.
 
I met only one set of glowing yellow eyes before casting my own downward.
 

All my flesh, my nipples, my jutting clitoris, my full round bottom—was exposed for them to see.
 
This put warmth in my face, but this wasn’t the shame I’d felt when the prince hurt me.
 
These demons ached with desire for me because I was beautiful.
 
I was being brought to their king, so they couldn’t have me.
 
Their longing was palpable, however.
 
It placed me in a strange position of power over them.
 
All they could do was pine for a treasure they may never have.
 
(At least I assumed.)
 
It was as though my body taunted them.

We continued over a bridge above a black river peppered with demon fishermen on long rowboats.
 
Then the road leveled downward and tall buildings blocked out the view on either side of us.
 
This was when embarrassment struck me—for I was paraded before both male and female demons (some of which were elegantly attired like nobles) who took pause from their business to gawk at me.
 
The dense foot traffic of the road gave way for us without any commands from the soldiers.
 
There were even more boisterous sounds all about us, but all this seemed rather ordinary.
 
I expected more obvious wretchedness from the underworld.

The soldiers kept me at a steady march and soon we crossed a drawbridge leading into the dark fortress.
 
Another soldier came to my attendants on a fearsome black demon horse that was twice the size as a mortal one, and could have taken my fist into one nostril.
 
Devroth repeated his report about me and the new soldier rode inside ahead of us.

We walked just as long within the fortress as without.
 
First we passed through a massive foyer, where the high walls, ceiling, and floor were all forged from shimmering black rock.
 
The furniture, the fixtures, all the elegant accoutrements were made of onyx stone.
 
I saw no sign of wood, but there were brightly colored carpets and tapestries.
 
I even spied greenery in tall vases, though how that was possible without sun I couldn’t imagine.
 

My feet were aching by the time we reached the onyx door that would apparently lead to our destination.
 
My wrists also throbbed from the heavy bindings forcing my arms behind my back.
 
A small demon page, a juvenile of the species who would likely be the equivalent of a ten year old were he mortal, bade us to wait while he checked to see if the king was ready to receive us.
 
He returned quickly and told us to enter.

We came into a black onyx throne room more modest than I expected.
 
It took only twelve paces to stand before the king.
 
His throne was three steps up on a broad platform.
 
The king was so massive he had to dwarf even Devroth.
 
He had giant curling horns atop long black hair.
 
His thick legs looked as powerful as a true dragon’s, and I could see a thick dragon tail curling around the back of the throne (where an opening must have allowed it through).
 
Most of his imposing muscles were bare.
 
He wore a leather sheath over his groin, gauntlets on his wrists, and adornments over the tops of his legs.
 
His face was attractive, if somewhat severe, with a strong chin and wise, narrow eyes.
 
He looked as though he’d match Edgar’s age had he been mortal.
 

A smaller demon wearing colorful robes stood beside him at an onyx lectern.
 
Now that I had been exposed to many demon faces I could clearly discern that this individual was beautiful.
 
He had his hair in a bun with dark loose wisps framing a regal face and spilling over his shoulders.
 
He was not overly muscular, but lean.
 
I felt he was someone you’d expect to see standing beside a king.
 

Devroth and Haralzin flanked me and each lowered to one knee with their heads bowed.
 
I knew not what to do so I lowered my head.

“My king,” Devroth said, “this woman smashed through our gate and trespassed into Darkhelm.
 
She says she’s a half-goddess who was out fleeing from King Thurber’s knights.”

“Was it you who stripped her?” the beautiful nobledemon said.

“No, my lord,” Haralzin said.
 
“She showed up this way.
 
Stark naked.”

I heard a whomph noise.
 
When I peeked up I saw a magical pool floating in front of the king.
 
Inside of it was an image of several knights guarding the cave leading into the underworld.

“How did you wrong King Thurber?” the king said.
 
His voice was deeper and had more demonic tremors than Devroth’s.
 
There was a touch of serenity, however.
 
I had an inkling, from the impressive village and from his bearing, that he was not an unjust king.

I cleared my throat.
 
“It…it wasn’t King Thurber.
 
His oldest brother Riffzer.
 
He invited me to the castle to see if he wanted to marry me.
 
I’m a goddess.
 
Well, a half-goddess.”

“Who sired you?” the king said.

“Fizu.
 
The god of the harvest.”

The king nodded as though he’d already guessed this.
 
The nobledemon leaned over to whisper something to him.
  

“So…um, it was a…a horrible meeting.
 
He made me strip, then tried to bed me.
 
I…well I…”

“She said she attacked him, my king,” Devroth said.

I tucked my lips into my mouth to wet them.
 
“Well, yes I did.
 
I was so angry, you see.
 
Then I had to run, even though I was naked.
 
He sent those knights after me.
 
My home isn’t far from your gate.
 
That’s where they chased me.
 
They were going to kill me.
 
I didn’t feel I had a choice.”
 
I took a tremulous breath.
 
“I’m sorry I trespassed.”

The king touched his chin with a large clawed finger.
 
“How does Thurber get on with his brother Riffzer?”

“Not well,” the nobledemon said.
 
“There’s animosity since he took the throne from him.”

My brow furrowed.
 
Did they know my king?
 
Do all kings know each other—even those from the underworld?

“Mm.
 
So you’ve trespassed into our land, and now you can’t leave.
 
Isn’t that what you’re saying?”

I swallowed.
 
“Is there another way out?”

“Only if you wish to be eaten by the Raven Fey,” the nobledemon said.

I frowned.

“She smashed our outer gate, my king,” Devroth said.
 
(I wish he’d shut up.)

The nobledemon harrumphed at this.
 
“She should be executed, my king.
 
Raped a while first, for it would be a shame not to exploit such an enticing package, but then executed.”

The room began to feel as though it were spinning.
 
“I…I didn’t want to trespass.
 
I was—“

“Be silent.”
 
The nobledemon sneered at me.
 
“Don’t mistake us for mortals who might bestow mercy.
 
You knew it was forbidden to enter here and yet chose to flout our laws.
 
Such an insult will be answered.”

I began to cry.
 
My throat felt so tight it became hard to breathe.

“My king,” Haralzin said.
 
I looked at him.
 
“Might I add a word?”

“Of course.”

“Ain’t my place to say this—I know that, my king.
 
Just seems a waste to execute her.
 
I mean…seeing that she’s a half-goddess and all.”

“That alone is not reason to spare her,” the nobledemon said.

The king leaned back and sighed.
 
“No, I suppose not.
 
But there’s something to be said about her arriving naked.
 
Her body is exquisite.
 
I hardly expected such a treat to spice our dismally boring court today.”

The nobledemon tsked.
 

The king looked at his companion.
 
“Do you really want to destroy this pretty thing, Randell?”

My tear-drenched face fixed on him.

“We should,” the nobledemon Randell said.
 
“Mortal females are fragile and prone to hysterics.
 
You’ve no time to coddle such a tedious pet.”

The king grinned at me.
 
“I don’t find her tedious.
 
And she’s but half-mortal.
 
Perhaps her godly portion shall prove her worthy of saving.”

Randell gave him a reprimanding glare.
 
“My king, I think you’re being overly sentimental because you miss Jonah.”

“Will you be the one tell him we executed some hapless naked girl when he returns?”

I snuffled and they both looked at me.
 
My lips parted.
 
I knew I should be silent, but the words were yearning to get out.
 

“I…I would be a good pet.”

Randell’s brow rose.
 
The king continued to smile at me.
 
There was hint of danger in that smile.
 
For now his mercy was my only hope.

“Unbind her,” the king said.

Both my attendants rose from their knees.
 
Devroth removed the manacles.
 
I soothed my bruised wrists.

“Come to me.”

The king’s words made a shiver course down my spine.
 
I forced my legs to move, but only took a step before hesitating.
 
Every fiber of my will wanted to disobey.
 
My very skin felt as if some force was tugging me in the opposite direction.
 
I just couldn’t lose his favor now.
 
That fact allowed me to mount the stairs.
 
I took the final dire step before him.
 
The unease was so great within me I feared my legs would give way.

The king reached out and held my arm.
 
His hand was smooth and warm.
 
The gentle touch caused a warm swell of relief in my middle.

“What a lovely creature you are.
 
What’s your name?”

“Sarina,” I said.
 
I didn’t have the courage to look into his eyes.

“Do you fear me, Sarina?
 
Are you on the verge of some hysterics?”

I swallowed.
 
“I…I do fear you.
 
But I could learn not to.”