Light in the Dark

Chapter 3

I felt the magic in my new sword thrum, calling to my own power. Someone had infused the silver swirling on the blade with darkness. Even so, it had been a while since anyone had recharged it, so the magic was weakening. I would have to infuse some of my power later. But for now... I placed the blade down on a conveniently placed bench, and started buckling the sheath that accompanied the sword onto my belt. When I was satisfied with the knot, I slid the blade in. "Lightsinger," I said aloud. It fit the blade.

Indeed, when I said that, it glowed. I smiled.

After my run, I made my way back to my room in guest housing. My new sword hummed by my side, reminding me of what I'd said I would do.

I extending my mind towards the blade, the silver entwining into the metal.

Gently, slowly, I started releasing my power into the silver.

The moment I'd finished doing so, I'd arrived in front of my room.

Opening the door, I got a worrying feeling. Something wasn't right.

I found out what was wrong as soon as I stepped into the bedroom.

Dimitri's father, the Moroi king of Russia, was lying on the bed, his shirt on the floor next to him. He only had his pants on.

Not that I had a vendetta against half-naked men in general, but Dimitri's father was disgusting. How anyone would want a drunk man in their bed was beyond me.

Yes, he may be a King, but he was also a sleazeball. And if the way he curled his fingers at me, telling me to join him, a beard-splitter too.

Did he think I was a prostitute?

"Come here," he ordered, a slight slur lacing his words.

I was not going to do that. Bastard.

"I said, come here!" he yelled.

"You're drunk." Maybe not the best thing to say to a drunk person.

He snarled, his face twisting into an expression of fury. The strange thing was that I should be afraid of him. But I wasn't.

He reached out a hand, fire twisting along his palm. "You are going to be come here and be compliant about it."

If the situation wasn't so surprising I would have laughed. Was he trying to compel me?

For the information, I couldn't be compelled by a spirit user. I wasn't so sure about dark users being able to compel each other as I didn't know any dark users.

I didn't think the world knew any. Of course, in the manipulative world of politics, dark secrets, scandals, and drama were hidden under a façade of perfectness, one of lies. Anyone could be dark user and I would never know.

I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts.

He was vibrating with rage. He had his belt in one hand, and he started to advance towards me.

"I said," he bellowed, "to be a compliant little slut!"

The magic inside me built, aching for an outlet. This time, I let it out.

I seized control of his mind - seriously, did people have mental shields anymore? - and riffled through his memories.

He'd seen me when we arrived and wanted me. And like any other Royal man, what he wanted he took. He'd inquired for the information about our rooms. He'd made it to mine, and laid down in my bed to wait for me.

Disgusting.

"You will leave and never return," I compelled him. "You are to forget that you ever saw me. You will forget that you know me."