Frailty: The Darkshine Read online

  “You called for me, Father?”

  “Ah, Gaijryc, my son, please come up here with your family.”

  Gaijryc loved his mother and father, but over the years, he had grown to resent their ways, the way they cared only for themselves, and very little for their kind that they ruled over. He walked up the red carpeted steps and stood between his parents. He looked down at the sea of bodies, the elite society of his kind. The females were in their jewel inlaid gowns, the males in suits ranging from different time periods. Gaijryc watched the faces in front of him, each one of them beautiful in their own exotic and deadly way.

  “My son, I have been speaking with the council and it was discussed about you mating a female and producing an heir. Your mother and I would like to step down from the throne soon, and since you are the high-ranking prince, your time to rule is nearing.”

  He looked down at his father and grimaced inside. The king spoke the words as if he didn’t remind him about mating a female and producing an heir every day. The fact that he’d spoken with the council about the matter proved that he was growing impatient with Gaijryc, and his failure to produce a grandchild for them.

  “We will be having a ball in a months’ time, and any available high ranking DarkShine female will be presented to you for your choosing.”

  “Father, I really don’t think that is necessary.”

  “Silence! Your mother and I have waited long enough for you to find a female. It is clear you need some assistance in the matter and are well past the age of maturity. You should have mated and have had many offspring by now. This is a gift to you from your mother and I before we retire from the throne.”

  He didn’t speak, knowing that his father was furious. He had shown his anger in front of the council and that was proof enough that he was livid over the matter. Gaijryc feared he would have to take a female which he had no feelings for just to appease his father’s wishes. His mother patted his hand and threw a small smile toward him. She might look sweet and innocent, but under that façade was a far more dangerous being. Gaijryc looked down at his polished dress shoes and waited for the meeting to end.

  Alone

  Two weeks had already passed since Helina had moved into the mountain. She’d figured out how to open the cans without an opener—a jagged rock being the blade while she hammered it into the lid. She had gotten a nasty cut on her hand the first time she tried, and was starting to get worried when it didn’t heal right away. While cleaning it every day helped, the wound had become a nasty shade of red and refused to close.

  Nightmares assaulted her of her hand getting gangrene and eventually falling off. If that could actually happen, she didn’t know, but the images in her head had her constantly tending to the wound, and eventually it healed.

  Every day she sat at the opening of her mountain cave, the bushes covering her appearance from any eyes. The sun was still able to pierce the thick branches and she enjoyed its warmth for a short time before her paranoia got the best of her and she moved back into her dwelling. Food was becoming scarce and she decided that it was imperative that she venture out to find something to eat. Helina had been surviving on a can of fruit and a few Twinkies a day, but that alone was making her feel sick and malnourished.

  For those first two weeks she listened to the small battery-operated radio she had been smart enough to bring. Mainly there was static, but every once in awhile she would picked up a pirated site, people screaming and ranting about how creatures of the night had taken over the world and how every human would soon be their meal. Helina listened with fear at how these monsters were described like vampires: sharp fangs, bloodlust and inhuman strength and power pouring through them. The images made her shake uncontrollably and she feared she would be found and be the vampires’ next meal.

  After hearing those horrific proclamations, Helina decided it was best not to listen at all. She tucked the radio away, so frightened that if she turned it on she would hear more of the same things or worse…nothing at all.

  Helina sat at the entrance of the cave once again and listened to see if she could hear anything. She had no idea where to look for food, or if she would even be able to find any, but she knew she had to try. Debating wouldn’t do her any good, so without another thought, she went out of her hole and into the fresh air. Bringing up her hand to block the bright sun, she looked at the sky for a moment. Most of the tree tops covered what blue could be seen, but there was a break every now and then and she was able to glimpse the beautiful sky.

  Standing as still as she could, she listened for any kind of movement. The only thing that she heard was her own heart beating against her ribcage. She started off to the left, hoping something would just pop out in front of her that was edible. Helina walked for a good twenty minutes before she was lucky enough to find some wild raspberries. Picking as many as she could, she tossed them into her outstretched shirt. She ate more than she actually put into her shirt, but her stomach was growling and the Twinkie hadn’t been enough.

  Helina turned and started back when she heard twigs cracking in the distance. She looked back and forth, not knowing if she should attempt to run or go as quietly as she could. Gripping the hem of her shirt tighter, she decided that it didn’t matter how quiet she tried to be, because those monsters were sure to hear her either way. More twigs snapped in half, much closer than before, and she took off as fast as her legs could carry her. She looked over her shoulder, afraid someone, or something, would be right behind her. Running harder, faster, she finally reached her cave. She crawled in quickly, silently praying that whatever was out there hadn’t seen her.

  That morning, Gaijryc decided to leave the mansion and explore the grounds. The DarkShine were extraordinarily fast and it took him a matter of minutes to explore the many acres. He reached the property line where a fast-running brook separated his parents’ land from the thick wooded forest that lay just beyond.

  He bent at the knees and jumped, clearing the brook and feeling the splashes of water kiss his skin as his body moved fluidly over the rambling liquid. Bending his knees slightly, he landed on the other side, the soft ground breaking his fall. He inhaled deeply and smelled the clean fresh air. All life seemed void since their arrival, as if they had known what a threat the DarkShine really were and decided it would be their death if they stayed. Of course, his kind fed off of creatures such as birds and rabbits, but their taste was more refined, more accustomed to the thick red liquid that ran through a human, as well as their own bodies.

  It wasn’t as if his species couldn’t live strictly off of DarkShine blood. They could in fact sustain life off of human and DarkShine blood, their bodies able to metabolize both forms of fluid equally, even though they were not of the same species, very similar, but completely different in so many ways.

  It was the sweetness of a human’s blood that they became addicted to, that potency that was a drug to their senses. It was the high they got when they pierced the tender flesh of the lesser species, that sweet, sweet liquid washing over their pallet and teasing their senses.

  He shook his head, pushing his wayward thoughts to the back of his mind as he took in his surroundings. He took note of everything that passed him, his eyesight picking up the very makeup of the trees’ thick bark and every vein that made up its green leaves. He stopped next to a large oak tree, the trunk bigger than anything he had ever seen. He ran his hands across the trunk, closing his eyes as the texture sunk into every pore of his being. He moved away from the tree and started at a much slower pace through the forest.

  He stopped and inhaled deeply. The wind whipped around him and he picked up a smell that made his heart beat a fast rhythm, had his fangs aching in his mouth. The scent was distinctly female and very much human. He could smell the clean, intoxicating aroma of her and was surprised at how aroused he became. He straightened and started to walk toward the smell that had made his whole body come alive with excitement. It was as if he were hypnotized, as if the very smell of t
his human female called to him, seduced him with just her scent.

  He moved toward her, his body picking up speed as her smell intensified. He could hear the leaves rustle beneath his feet, the sticks crunching as he moved over them. He stopped where he was as he heard her heart start to race and smelled her addicting scent rush in the opposite direction. It was as if his body where on autopilot, moving on its own accord, toward what it wanted most, what it needed most.

  He couldn’t explain the reaction he was having—it was just a smell, after all—but it was like her blood called to him on some primitive level and until he had it, he couldn’t, wouldn’t be appeased. He moved faster towards her and could see her small body in the distance. Gaijryc could have easily caught her, but he knew she was frightened, could smell the acidic scent of her fear coming off her in waves. As he watched her, he could see her dark hair blowing behind her as she ran, like a curtain of dark silk arousing him further.

  He stepped behind a tree and watched as she stopped by the base of a mountain and took a deep breath. He knitted his brows as he watched her crawl through an opening that looked so small he was surprised even her slender body could fit through it. He was surprised none of his kind had found her. It was possible the DarkShine hadn’t picked up her scent, not with so many only aromas wafting around. The very idea of one of his kind finding her had his skin tightening and every possessive instinct in him roaring out. They would surely kill her if they knew where she was, for he knew they wouldn’t waste such a tempting human.

  Gaijryc sat and watched that cave for hours upon hours, relishing her scent, which smelled of ambrosia and honeysuckle. All he wanted was one more look at her long, flowing dark hair, one more look at her creamy, smooth flesh. She stayed inside and soon he forced himself to leave. Her scent was in his system, in the very makeup of his DNA, and he knew that he would be able to find her anywhere and at any time.

  Aires sat on the long, velvet-covered chaise that was in his brother’s quarters. Adais lay on his bed with a female on each side of him. The DarkShine females’ bodies grinded against his twin, their lips sliding against him as they kissed and nipped at his golden skin. Jacinta and Zysis ran their fangs along Adais’s skin as their hands moved to the erection that stood stiff against his thigh. He would have gone over and join them, but his body was sated well by the females, and at times, he just enjoyed watching.

  Jacinta moved her body down to Adais’s erection and latched her mouth over the head of his penis. Aires watched as both females gave his twin gratification, their ripe breasts and supple nipples standing erect and ready for a mouth. Aires stood up, his naked body absorbing the light of the sun that shone through the window. He leaned against the frame and stared out at the lush lawn and bright blue skies. He was getting so bored of the repetition that made up his life. He felt like his existence had been nothing more than a chess game, he being the pawn, his father playing him like a fool.

  He brought his attention back to Aires and the two females. His twin was busy pounding into Jacinta from behind while she was busy pleasuring Zysis with her mouth. Their moans and his twin’s grunts were enough to drive him insane. He walked out of the room, ignoring the two females’ pleas for him to stay.

  The first meeting

  The following morning Helina quickly bathed and dressed, thinking about what was to come. She needed to go out of the cave and search for food and water again, the wild raspberries doing nothing to sate her hunger. Her supply of bottled water was coming to an end and she wasn’t keen on drinking the water she bathed in every day, but if it came down to it she would obviously have no choice.

  It took her almost twenty minutes to work up the courage to go outside of her hermit hole. She kept replaying the day before when all she could think about was that one of those creatures, whatever they might be, had been right behind her. Of course, it could have just been her imagination, could have been an animal that made those twigs break, but the fact that she still got chills thinking about it made her think twice.

  Helina dashed out and headed in the opposite direction. Trying to keep as quiet as she could, she couldn’t help the prickling feeling that started on the back of her neck. Every time Helina looked over her shoulder she saw nothing, absolutely nothing. That was what frightened her most of all. She started at a quicker pace when the feeling that she was being watched intensified.

  The low sound of running water penetrated her fear-laced brain before she actually saw anything. She followed the sound until she saw the slow-moving water that moved down a slope. The liquid was crystal clear and smelled fresh as it moved past her in an almost sensual dance. Sitting down, she cupped her hands and scoped some of it into her mouth. The first taste slid down her throat and instantly quenched her thirst. As she picked up another handful and swallowed it, she nearly choked when she heard a thumping sound from across the water. Helina didn’t move a muscle and kept her head low, her eyes trained on the water. Lifting her head slowly, her mouth fell open as she stared at the man in front of her.

  He sat on his haunches, every muscle in his huge body standing out in stark relief. His hair was a pale blond and his eyes a vivid green that she could see even from where she was. Helina knew the man in front of her wasn’t a human. There was just something about him that screamed predator—that told her just from his appearance he was something far different, something far more dangerous than any human man could ever be.

  He stared at her as if he were taking in her very essence, as if he didn’t quite know what to think of her. That alone made her panic, her breath seesawing in and out of her mouth in rapid succession. She knew just from looking at him that he was one of those things, the same creature that had killed Lizzy.

  Her eyes grew wide as he stood. He was huge, far bigger than she thought any person could be. She could try and outrun him, but she knew he would catch her before she even turned around. His knees bent slightly and his huge body jumped the water as if it were no more than a stepping stone. She fell back on her bottom as he landed in front of her with a soft thud. The pebbles around his feet seemed to bend from the impact, skittering around the ground as if they knew they should get away.

  “What are you?”

  What was she? Helina should have been the one asking him that question. His words were spoken in a deep rumble that seemed to spear through her whole body. She could see his bright white teeth, the twin fangs that replaced what should have been flat ones. Her heart slammed against her sternum, adrenaline pumping through her body as her flight instinct took over. She should have run, should have followed her body’s response to what she was seeing, but she wasn’t—and not because she knew he would catch her.

  Although he was a frightening sight, she couldn’t deny that his voice was as pleasing to her as a lover’s caress. She couldn’t find her voice to answer his question, didn’t think she could have answered it anyway. He went down on his haunches in front of her, his eyes roaming over her body and making her feel as if she was laid out bare for him. He was so close to her that she could see now that the green of his irises had little flecks of blue in them. His hand reached up and she stiffened instinctively. She felt the soft caress of his fingers along her cheek, heard a gasp and realized it had come from her.

  “Who are you?” he asked her again, his fingers travelling down her cheek and outlining her lips as he continued to stare at her mouth.

  She licked her suddenly dry lips, shocked by the deep groan he uttered. The situation was surreal, her reaction to him, his reaction to her. Helina didn’t know what was actually happening between them and as much as she hated to admit it, she felt a strong pull toward him that went beyond all reason and doubt.

  “Please, tell me what you are called.” His voice was soft, yet deep. Strong, yet gentle. He brought his eyes to hers, urging, compelling her with his stare to answer.

  Before she could answer him, he turned his head and stared over his shoulder across the stream. She followed his gaze but sai
d nothing, heard nothing but her beating heart and the wilderness around them. In the next second he had her in his arms and back into the woods before she could even inhale. Realizing what was happening, Helina opened her mouth to scream, only to have his large palm cover it as he looked down at her and shook his head. He stared down at her intently, paying no attention to where he was going. She found herself falling into the teal abyss that made up his gaze. As he held her, she knew fear should be forefront in her mind, but as his strong arms pressed her tighter against his chest, any thoughts of that particular emotion seemed to vanish.

  Everything around her was no more than a blur as he raced away, leaving whatever threat lay behind him. Before she knew it, he was sliding her down his muscled body and pushing her so that she was forced to drop to her knees. Helina realized that she was at the entrance to her cave. He gently urged her until she started to crawl through the small opening. She didn’t dwell on the uneasiness that he knew where she had been staying. Once she was inside she turned and looked back at him. He was once again on his haunches, staring at her with an expression that resembled fear.

  “Please, hurry inside. I will come back very soon.”

  They looked at each other for a suspended moment before he vanished before her eyes—moving so fast it was like vapor leaving the extinguished flames of a fire. Helina went to the farthest part of her cave, where the shadows encased the corners and no light penetrated. She didn’t know what compelled her to listen the vampire, the enemy, but she knew that if he was dangerous to her, he would have, could have killed her before she even knew it.

  Gaijryc left the cave entrance and made his way back to the stream quickly. He was by the water in no more than a few seconds and just in time to see Aires walking casually through the parting trees.