The Darkness Within

Chapter 13

Dear Readers, As always pictures are on PhotoBucket.com. Sorry this is so short, I really should add it with chapter 14, but really wanted to give you guys something since I feel like I'm slacking some days. Hope you enjoy! Comment/Fan/Vote! 

-M

Chapter 13

Caitirina~

After our little conversation Rane "poofed" away. I found it amazing that I was so okay with this, shouldn't I be freaking out over the fact that people are disappearing, I'm in the 17th century, and the Bitch Queen of Andra wants to "steal" me for her army? I was fully engrossed in my thoughts that I hadn't even realized I had reached the High Guards building again. I slowly climbed the stairs and opened the door, quietly stepping in. 

"Caitirina" I guess I hadn't been as stealthy as I wanted to be. I turned around Lorcan sat in a chair my the stairs. Lacing up his boots. He looked over at me eyebrow raised. 

"Hey,,," I replied cautiously. "What's up?" 

"Caitirina..." He scolded. 

"I'm sorry! I was upstairs when--" Suddenly the door flew open.

"Oh there you are darling! I'm so very glad I've found you." Narishka announced as she glided into the room. She wore an incredibly white dress that seemed to shine. "Lorcan, good you're here too." 

Lorcan grunted in return and stood up, moving himself slightly in front of me at glaring at the two men that flanked her side. 

She was either to self absorbed to notice or just pretend not to notice because she went on as if we were the only ones in the room.

"Now Caitirina, I hope you're not busy for the rest of the day."

"Umm...no?" 

"Oh Goody!" She smiled brightly, "Biddy!" She screeched. Biddy came running in from outside. 

"Aye, my Queen?" She asked.

"I want you to take Caitirina here and get her ready for tonight." 

"Aye, my Queen." She replied.

"I want her to look radiant! Give here whatever she needs, as our...guest, she should be treated wonderfully...isn't that right Lorcan?" She asked him with a knowing smile. How did she know what had gone on between us? 

Lorcan growled in reply, the noise so feral it sounded like it had come from somewhere within. I placed my hand on his arm, and stepped in front of him. He protested by I didn't listen.

"What exactly am I getting dressed up for?" 

"Why for the festival of course! I'd like you to come as Lorcan's guest." She replied.

"NO!" Lorcan roared. "I will not put her in such danger." 

"Oh Lorcan, do calm down. She will be at your side the whole time. It is time that she meets...the others." She said this all very sweetly as she ran her fingers down his chest. He wrinkled his nose and brushed her hand aside. She smiled brightly and winked. 

She turned ans sauntered over to the two men standing guard by the door. "I'll leave you two to get ready." She walked out, her minions trailing behind, the door closed without the touch of anyone. 

Lorcan sat down heavily in the chair he had been in when I first came in.

"I don't get it, what's so dangerous about the festival? You said it was just neighboring--"

"Biddy?"

"Aye..."

"I will bring Caititirna to ye later, give us a moment." He replied quietly. biddy nodded and left.

"I lied." He replied the moment the door closed. He ran his fingers threw his hair. "The truth is the festival is not with the neighboring clans, but with the people within the castle, and for some of us, the Fae kingdom."

"But isn't this..."

"Technically we are still in the human realm. But there is an entrance within the castle that brings us to Intuneric and Lumina" He replied.

"Intun--anawah?" Was that English?

"The two realms of the Fae Kingdom. Intuneric, the Darkness, and Lumina, the light. Both now run by Narishka. Though at one time she only ruled Intuneric." He explained.

"Then why is she ruling both now?"

He sighed heavily and placed his head in his hands. "A few years ago we lost our King, Vaettur, the ruler of Lumina. It is unknown who...rid, of him. But I believed it was Narishka and still do. During this time of year both sides normally met to speak of alliances, treaties, laws and other such items. A great debt was owed, one that I do not know what of, but it was worth a lot to our King. For he promised The Dark Queen if he were to fall in the next season, and that there was no other to rule, she would rule all of the Fae Kingdom. Naturally we were all very surprised at this deal, but thought it was just a ploy. For the King would not die so easily. We were wrong. A short time later Vaettur was traveling to the home of an old friend. Where his daughter was visiting. She was to be married and he wanted to surpirse her. On the way he mysteriously dissappeared...his guards thoughts removed so we have no way of knowing who, or what took him. Unknowingly his daughter and future husband left the safety of the castle and ventured back to Andra. On the way they were intercepted by what we believe to be the same people. Both were taken." He regarded me slowly, seeing if I couldtake this all in I suppose. "Mind you this story was told to me by someone else, unfortunately I was not there. This happen during the my...forgotten time."

"Are they dead?" I asked quietly. 

"Most likely, though I feel our people would have felt more pain then they did. We have a deep bond with our ruler...our real ruler. But the King was to strong, he wouldn't have been caught this long. Not without some message to his people." 

"Yes, but..."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me onto his lap. He sighed heavily, and rested his head on my shoulder. "Shh...no more talk of this depressing time. I will tell you more later. Let us just be together."

Lorcan~

Her hand ran through my hair as she tipped my head back. I met her concerned stare. And I knew it, I was falling in love with her. A girl I had only met some days ago, and she had my heart. I leaned forward, cupping her head in my hand. I just sat there a moment, staring into those dark beautiful eyes. Then I leaned forward brushing my lips across hers, we both moaned. Her hand tightenend in my hair as her other hand wound its way around my neck. Our kiss intensified. I wondered for a moment why we weren't sharing a "memory", Maybe her hands weren't placed right. I was about to mention it, missing that wonderful contact we had when we shared when. When she shifted and used my arm as leverage. Her hand magically placed it self perfectly in line with the tattoos the ran up the length of it. And we were yet again thrown into a world of delight.