Lux Ex Tenebris Ch. 03

Prologue

"Belial, what is wrong with you?!"

"I will not have a human as my queen!"

"You don't want to do this! Think about what the King will do if he finds out what you've done!"

"I WILL NOT HAVE YOU AS MY QUEEN!"

He lurched towards me like a madman, held my head with his hands and smashed my head to the rock cliff behind me. The world then turned black.

***

I slowly opened my eyes and everything was blurry. Closing my eyes again, I took a deep breath and lied down motionless, giving my body some more time to adjust. I opened my eyes again and for a moment I couldn't recall what happened. Slowly I sat up and my head started to throb like crazy that I had to lie down once more. I put my hand down and felt the rough texture beneath. And I remembered. Belial. Looking up at the sky I had no idea how long I had been there but the sun was setting down as of now. I gravely recalled the moment when I lost my trusted guards, Bastian and Lucien, and I was wondering what kind of sword it was that Belial used. For all I knew no regular sword would be able to penetrate the body of a Tenebrian, save for the knife Lorant used to pierce through Vidor's finger on our wedding day. That sword had to be some unworldly sword as it also radiated a gloomy silver light.

I tried and slowly sat up and leaned back on the rock wall behind me. I reached up to the back of my head and found a bump there. Well at least that was that and I could only pray there was no internal bleeding. Scanning where I was I realized that the tree root was pretty large and wide that I could lie down and pace around. I looked up, hoping that there was a way for me to climb up there but I bitterly saw that the root that was going up went inside the cliff. The rock cliff itself was smooth and not as rough as I hoped for, so there was no chance to climb the rocky wall either. I looked down and saw a large pond. The water was murky. I was thinking of the possibility to jump into the water when I heard a growl from above.

I looked up and saw the strangest creature ever. It was jet black with sheath-like skin. The head was large and it resembled a lion's head except it had no ears, the muzzle was replaced with four slits, and there were 4 large fangs protruding from its mouth. Everything about it looked wrong. And that wrong thing was trying to descend down the cliff to me. It opened its mouth and hissed and I saw rows of canine tooth that looked equally as scary as the fangs. I looked around, searching for anything to defend myself with but I found none. I felt my heart racing. That thing managed to descend for a few steps before it slipped and fell its long way down into the pond. I looked down and watched a large neon blue snake shot from the water. It opened its mouth and exposed rows of horrid sharp tooth that went into its throat and down further, caught the other animal midair in its mouth, clamped it so tight I could hear the sheath broken before the snake retreated back into the water along with the fallen prey. Nope, I'm definitely not going to jump in.

I hopelessly sat there. The sun already set and the air was getting chilly. My long dress wasn't thick enough to keep me warm. Huddling myself my mind went to Vidor and I prayed he would find me sooner. Apparently the forest was active at night and soon I heard strange, exotic noises and sounds from all over the place. I was no coward, but out here alone by myself in a place that was alien to me and nothing to survive with was enough to scare me. I lied down and curled myself into a ball, trying to keep myself warm and letting sleep take over me.

I looked up and saw that the moon already rose. I had fallen asleep for a few hours. Then I heard a familiar swooshing sound. I lied there motionless, focusing myself on the sound and I knew it was the swooshing sound of a Tenebrian's wings. I prayed it was Vidor and not some other strange, large bird-like creatures that had been flying around. I finally saw a figure flying above me. The moon light reflected on the wings and I saw it was a guard. I got up and called out to him out loud,

"Hey! Guard! GUARD!! I'm down here!"

The guard stopped flying midair, looked down at me and made his way towards me. He hovered in front of me although still maintaining a distance, and lifted up a small cylinder tube I didn't see he was holding. He squeezed it and a bright orange fireball shot upward and lit the area for a good 30 minutes. He nodded at me and stayed hovering. I frowned at him,

"Why aren't you bringing me back to the castle?"

"I must not touch the Queen. His Majesty will bring you back."

I sighed with relief, knowing that Vidor was on his way to me.

"Did you catch Belial?"

No response.

"What of Bastian and Lucien?"

Still no response.

I looked at him with a mix of grudge and relief. Well at least he found me and was here to make sure I was safe until Vidor arrived. After what felt like an eternity I heard the most familiar swooshing sound and saw Vidor flew down the cliff. The guard flew away upon Vidor's arrival. Vidor stopped in front of me and looked at me with concern in his eyes. I reached out to him and he pulled me into his arms and held me tight.

"Clara."

I heard his whisper. Taking me in his arms he flew up and above the trees instead of going through the woods like what Belial did. The guard flew ahead of us. I held on to Vidor tight and hid my face in his neck, grateful for finally being with him. I inhaled his masculine scent deeply and choked back my tears. We finally reached the castle and Vidor landed on the balcony and went inside. Lorant was already in the room and standing near the bed, waiting until Vidor carefully put me down on the bed.

"My Lady, I am thankful you aren't harmed."

I nodded at Lorant,

"I am alright thank you, Lorant. Except I had a bump here on the back of my head."

I told him of how I got it and I saw Vidor, who was standing behind Lorant with his arms crossed on his large chest, clenched his jaws. Lorant turned around to Vidor,

"Allow me to examine the Queen's head, Your Majesty."

Vidor slightly nodded. I noticed that he was standing rigidly while watching Lorant. It brought a warm feeling to my heart and I couldn't help but smile. He raised an eyebrow at me which only made me smile wider. Clearly he had no clue that he was jealous. Finally Lorant stepped back and spoke to Vidor,

"I am pleased to say that the bump isn't dangerous and the Queen is safe. She will not have to take any medication; a good rest and food is all she needs. If there's nothing more I shall excuse myself."

Vidor nodded once more. Lorant bowed to us and got out of the room. When the door closed Vidor remained on his spot with his jaws clenched tight and stared at me intensely which made me nervous.

"Vidor-"

He turned around and walked out of the room, leaving me dumbfounded. Why did he do that? I was gone -kidnapped and abandoned, then he came to rescue me and left just like that? What did I do wrong?

I blinked my tears away when 2 maids entered and guided me to the bathroom. I told them I could wash up by myself but they ignored me and continued their I-must-clean-the-queen-thoroughly-or-else task in silence. After the bath they guided me to the dressing room and proceeded to brush my wet hair and deep inside I was happy I had them around since I was very exhausted both physically and mentally. After they put my hair in a tight bun and dressed me they bowed down and left the room. My head started to throb once more that I had to undo the bun and braided my hair loosely. And I found the dress that I wore to be suffocating that I had to strip down and change into my comfortable satin robe.

I walked out of the dressing room and found Vidor standing in front of the hearth, staring at the fire with his jaws clenched tight. I remained in my place, didn't know what to do when he turned his head around and offered his hand to me. I approached him and took his hand when he pulled me in his arms. I heard his whispering my name and all the tears that I had been fighting couldn't be contained anymore. I sobbed in his tight embrace, grateful that I was here with him, safe and away from all the harms.

"Vidor I-i... I'm so sorry..."

He tightened his embrace rather gingerly, as if he feared that I might shatter with too much pressure.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Clara."

"B-but I... I..."

I couldn't finish my sentence.

"Clara, lux mea. Sum semper tecum. Fuimus haud sollicitus, et non dimittet."

His whisper in the language that I still didn't understand soothed me until I gradually stopped crying.

"How long was I gone?"

I felt him letting his breath out when I whispered to his chest.

"2 days."

I gasped in shock.

"Are you mad at me?"

He tightened his embrace around me and slightly loosened it only to cup my face with his hand.

"Mad at you? When it's clearly not your fault? How can I?"

He leaned down and kissed me softly on my lips to which I gratefully and softly replied. He deepened his kiss and I pushed my arms inside the front of his shirt and slide them around his hard, sleek torso. The heat of his body had permeated the thin fabric of his shirt, and I shivered pleasantly as I delved into the male-scented warmth of his embrace. Vidor tucked a loose lock of hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek in his palm as he leaned forward. His mouth teased mine into yielding openness, while his hands found the outline of my body within the thin satin robe I was wearing. With no corset to constrict my ribs I could feel his touch through the thin fabric. The stroke of his hands along my unbound sides caused me to quiver, the tips of my breasts turning exquisitely sensitive. His palm traveled slowly over my front, finding the pliant weight of one breast, and he made a gentle cup of his fingers, lifting the vulnerable flesh. My breath halted momentarily as his thumb nudged my nipple into delicately aching distention. He looked into my eyes, our faces so close that our noses were touching.

"Come to bed with me,"

He whispered, a command and plea in his voice.

I nodded with a shaky sigh and let him lead me to the large four-poster bed. Drawing back the cover he lifted me onto the slick-pressed linens, and I slid over to make room for him. He stood by the bed, watching my face as his clothes slowly disappeared -something that I still couldn't comprehend. The contrast between the disappearing clothes that were so eminently civilized and unnerving, and the raw masculine power of the body beneath, was disconcerting. Vidor possessed an unusually muscular torso, his back and shoulders rippling, his stomach tightly corrugated. His swarthy skin was tinted amber-gold in the lamplight, the surface of his shoulders gleaming as rich and taut as freshly cast metal. Pangs of excited apprehension went through my stomach as he joined me on the bed.

"Vidor,"

I said, breathing fast as he took me into his arms.

"I-I..."

His hand began to play in my hair, his fingers drifting over my scalp in a way that sent hot tingles down my spine.

"You don't have to do anything tonight. Just let me hold you... Touch you..."

Vidor's hand found the half opened satin robe and he took his time in opening it thoroughly as if he was opening a precious gift. His hand slid over my breast, cupping the cool roundness until the peak was rosy and hard in his palm. I let my fingers explore the deep groove of his spine and the tough-knit muscle on either side of it. My touch, simple as it was, disrupted the rhythm of his breath as he leaned over me.

"Vidor,"

I called again but stopped with a faint moan as he traced the satiny undercurve of my breast with the edge of his thumb. Containing my narrow rib cage in his hands, he bent over my chest. His lips were hot and light as they opened gently over a tightly budded nipple. I let out a gasping cry at the tender tugs of his mouth, his tongue flicking my sensitive flesh until I could no longer remain still beneath him. My legs parted involuntarily, and immediately he filled the space with his own hair-roughened thigh. As his hands and mouth wandered slowly over my body, I lifted my hands to his head, letting the thick waves slip through my fingers as I had so often longed to do. He kissed the gargle skin of my wrists, and the insides of my elbows, and the shallow depressions between my ribs, leaving no part of me unexplored. I let him do as he wished, quivering as I felt the prickle of his night beard contrasting with the silky wet heat of his mouth. When he reached my navel I felt the slick point of his tongue enter the little hollow. I gasped sharply as his fingers drifted over my stomach and his knee intruded more deeply between mine. Widening the angle between my thighs, he slipped his fingers into my soft feminine curls, exploring my swollen wet flesh. He parted me, found the silken peak that throbbed at his touch, and stroked just above it with sweet, dancing lightness.

He continued his journey down south while kissing and caressing his way stealthily down my body. By the time his dark head reached the shadow ingress between my thighs, I was moaning repeatedly. His mouth find mine, nuzzling past delicately crinkled hair and tiny silken ruffles of pink flesh, his tongue gliding over me in curling strokes. I shrank from him bashfully, but he gripped my hips in his hands and explored me mercilessly, the tip of his tongue gliding over every tender fold and crevice. The sight of his dark head between my thighs was a visceral jolt to my sense. The room around us blurred, and I felt as if I was floating amid layers of shadow and candlelight, conscious of nothing but exquisite, twisting rapture. I could hide nothing from him, could do nothing except surrender to the demanding mouth that solicited unholy delight from my awakening flesh. He centered on the peak of my sex, licking softly, steadily, until it finally became too much for me to endure, and I felt my hips rise of their own accord, quivering against his mouth, heat jetting through my pleasure-racked limbs.

Giving my sated flesh a last savoring lick, Vidor worked his way back up my body. My thighs were limp as he pushed them wide apart, the head of his shaft nudging against mine. Looking down into my dazed face, he soothed my hair back from my forehead. He lowered his head and began to whisper in his language in my ear even as he tightened his hips to enter my wet fold. No matter how many times I had laid with him, every time always felt like the first time. I forced myself to hold still despite the instinct to writhe away from the intrusion.

"Clara.. Sweetheart.."

His breath became ragged, and as he paused inside me he seemed to struggle for self-control.

"Yes, that's it... just a little more..."

He moved in another careful advance and hesitated again.

"A little more..."

He deepened his entry in lingering degrees, carefully courting my body into accepting him as if it was our first time together.

"More..."

"How much more?"

I gasped. He was too hard and too big, the pressure was too intense. Vidor gritted his teeth at the effort it took to hold still.

"I'm about halfway there,"

He finally managed, an apologetic note in his voice.

"Half-"

I began to protest with a shaky laugh and winced as he pushed again. But he kept impelling himself deeper, trying to soothe my pain with his mouth and hands. Gradually it became easier. A long sigh escaped me as I felt my body yielding, my flesh conceding to the inevitability of his possession. Vidor's back was a mass of tightly cobbled muscle, his belly as hard as carved rosewood. Holding himself deep in me, he groaned, while a shiver ran across his shoulders.

"Clara lux mea,"

His voice was slurred, as if he was drunk on pleasure. Filled with gratitude I wrapped my arms around his neck. I kissed him and let my tongue enter his mouth and I drew my hands down his back until my palms reached the hard contours of his buttocks. I stroked him in shy encouragement, urging him to sink deeper inside me. The caress seemed to eradicate the remainder of his self-control. With a growl of hunger, he pushed rhythmically inside me, shaking with the effort to be gentle. The force of his release caused him to shiver hard, his teeth gritting as sensation culminated in blinding rapture. Burying his face in the filtering strands of my hair, he soaked in my honey-slick warmth. A long time passed before the iron-hard tension left his muscles, and he let out a slow breath.

We laid there motionless with each other in our arms when I heard his whisper,

"My wife... My sweet wife..."

I turned my head to look at him when he hid me in his arms and rubbed his cheek against my hair.

"I was worried something bad happened to you."

I inhaled his masculine scent and whispered,

"I was worried and... scared that I would never see you again."

He stopped brushing my hair with his fingers momentarily before pulling my hair backward so he could see my face.

"And so was I."

I lifted my hand and he closed his eyes when I caressed his cheek.

"Vidor, what happened to Belial?"

He opened his eyes and I saw the expression changed.

"You need not to worry about him anymore."

"What do you mean? Is he... dead?"

Vidor stared into my eyes.

"Why do you care? He has committed an unforgivable crime and he must receive his punishment accordingly. That is none of your concern."

I gulped,

"I... I just wanted to know what happened to him after... after..."

I couldn't finish my sentence and lowered my gaze when he looked at me intensely for what felt like a long time.

"You can see him tomorrow if you wish. What's left of him anyway."

I looked at him quizzically when he leaned down and rubbed his nose against mine.

"I can only be grateful that you're safe and here with me in my arms."

I closed my eyes and returned his gesture.

"It was a horrible experience. I had no idea there are really weird creatures out there,"

"Which is why I once told you to avoid the woods,"

"Yes. And... Bastian and Lucien..."

I couldn't stop the tears from running down my cheek. Vidor clenched his jaws.

"As I said Belial received his punishment accordingly."

I nodded at him and averted my gaze again as I couldn't handle his intense gaze at me while he wiped my tears away with his fingers.

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Vidor asked me for the fourth time. We were at the top of the stairs that would lead us to the dungeon. It was during breakfast when I asked Vidor to see Belial. He refused at first and questioned my sanity when I told him I wanted to ask Belial why did he do all those things. He reluctantly agreed when I promised him I wouldn't take too long and that he would be present with me. I slipped my hand into Vidor's hand and he squeezed it, then we went the long way down to the dungeon where Belial was kept. Or imprisoned. The tunnel was well lit with torches on the walls and it smelled rotten when we finally reached the base. A guard opened a heavy iron gate upon seeing us and Vidor led me to the farthest chamber in the dungeon. Vidor nodded at the guard who was standing motionless before he opened the heavy door. I wasn't prepared to see what was in front of me.

The thing... Belial was chained high up the wall. His wings were gone and feathers were all over the floor. His skin was gone from head to toe and I could see blood dripping from various places of his body. His head was down and I thought he was dead when he lifted his head upon hearing my gasp. One of his eyes was dangling from its socket and his face was totally deformed, but that didn't prevent him from hissing and staring at me with pure hatred and he still had the power to scream at the top of his lungs,