Arcanus 12

[catriana_fiction]

Title: Arcanus (Previously known as Demon King)
Series: Original
Genre: Fantasy/Drama/Romance
Rating: M
Chapters: 16/??(WIP)
Summary: He is the Demon King of the West, one of the few true immortals of the western lands. When his kingdom is frozen by 'Olde Magick' he goes out into the world to find clues and answers. Along the way he binds himself to a young vampire, encounters a half-elf that is more than what he seems and quickly begins to realize that freezing his kingdom was only the beginning.

 

12

xxxxx

“I am never, ever, ever traveling via human transportation ever again.” Rioran growled rather savagely as his lifemate walked around their cabin room in wide eyed wonder. Even if the room was beautiful – really beautiful – he was a cheap ass and once again felt as if he had been ripped off concerning the amount of gold kon he had ended up having to painfully relinquish from his person for this room. Of course, it was really his own fault, he had purchased one of the airships’ best cabins because he refused to have his woman sleep in anything less than the finest.

No matter what he felt, she was still his lifemate and thusly, she was his queen.

The entire room was a mixture of golds and reds. There was carpet, plush and thick, and there were windows – wide windows, surprisingly – that held beautiful golden drapes with red trim. The room itself was massive; a king sized bed that looked softer than his own back in his kingdom practically covered in pillows sat in a separate section of the room. Elaborate cream furniture trimmed with gold matched the cream colored walls. There were two baths, one to bathe and then one, he assumed, to relax and soak in. It produced bubbles.

The entire place was over the top for his tastes but for Liari it was completely different. Vampires did live in luxury but not on a commercial scale like this. Her room also hadn’t had mirrors on the ceiling. Mirrors he really needed to stop looking at while near the bed as it gave him thoughts he really didn’t need to entertain.

They could have gotten a beautiful yet cheaper room but there was a true reason for him trying to spoil her. Ever since he had claimed her he hadn’t been all that kind to her and definitely hadn’t treated her the way a demon should be treating their lifemate. Instead of trying to become closer he had put her at a distance, acted like a jealous asshole and had done nothing to help her feel as if she belonged with him. The young vampire was homesick, sad, and felt insignificant in comparison to her mate. So he wasn’t good with relationships, that didn’t mean he was stupid.

Liari had sacrificed everything to join him, the only thing he had given up had been his time in waiting for her to mature. In addition, she was well aware of the fact that demons liked vampires as much as vampires liked demons. That only increased her insecurity and lack of self-worth for she would be the mate of a demon king and his subjects would despise her simply because she existed. That wasn’t really the case but he hadn’t really told her that or really sat down and revealed much of anything concerning who he was and where he came from. Naliel knew more about him than she did and the vampire had known him all of her life.

The more they were around each other the stronger their mental bond grew. She could now sense things from him that she hadn’t been able to before and the little barriers she had created for herself no longer would stop him if he didn’t want it to. Liari loved him, knew he didn’t love her and yet was accepting of her fate, even if she didn’t feel she was worth anything to the group. That…it hurt to see that, her pain affected him, it always had. Rioran didn’t love her but he cared about her deeply and she was his; she deserved happiness. He needed to try harder and had decided he would start now.

“It is…this room is amazing.” Her smile and eyes were bright as she turned to him, warmth in her gaze. It actually made him pause for a moment, as if seeing her for the first time. Shaking it off he walked over to join her in the middle of the room. They had but only two hours before the sun would rise and she would be forced to sleep. He had plans when she did but she didn’t need to know them yet.

“I am glad you like it, Vampireling.” It is said genuinely, even if he had paid an arm and a leg for it. He hated spending so much money but looking at her right here, right now, he no longer regretted it. When he put his arms around her waist to pull her close and she flushed, an unfamiliar emotion emerged as he looked down at her. For a moment, all he could think of was how beautiful she looked.

Was that a part of being bound? Liari was beautiful, he could not deny that, but feeling as if she were the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his two thousand years of living…that had to be the whole ‘lifemate’ thing right?

He must have been giving her some sort of look for surprise flickered and then her face began to turn an interesting shade of red, her gaze shifting away shyly. Something strong moved through him and Rioran began to feel confused. Why was it that Liari made him feel…so out of control? As a friend he was fine, when it came to being more than that he felt so completely out of his element and behaved in ways he never had before. It was unnerving not being in control of his emotions.

“I have one sister and ten brothers,” he suddenly said and she blinked up at him with slight confusion “I am the youngest, my sister is the oldest, and the two of us are the only pure blooded demons my father produced.”

Hazel eyes continued to blink up at him curiously, not quite understanding his train of thought. He smiled slightly.

“You have always wanted to know more about me, Vampireling,” he raised an eyebrow “Would you rather I not?”

“I…” biting her lip, which made him seriously control the urge to kiss her, she eventually gave him a small but nervous smile “You don’t have to…”

“Ever the selfless one.” If he were honest with himself he really had gotten lucky with her. Although she was a vampire she hardly acted like one. She was young and inexperienced but that meant little when they would be together for a very long time “I would not do it if I did not want to, you should know that by now. I promised you no more secrets, Liari, I am not one to go back on my word. You’ve always wished to know about me, so I will tell you as much as you wish to hear…until the sun rises that is. It is only fair since I know anything and everything about you.” Without waiting for her to respond he began to walk over towards the bed. She hesitated only briefly until she sensed that he was not planning on doing anything intimate. When he pulled her into his arms, her back flush with his front, and buried his face in her neck she let out a small sigh. He could not resist the urge to press his lips against her soft skin.

She was not his first lover and yet he actually felt happy to have her near. He felt relaxed and at ease, something he had never felt before with anyone else “With the exception of my thoughts on Naliel’s situation – that I will reveal in full when you awaken tonight – you may ask me anything you desire and I will answer it as truthfully as I can.”

She seemed to think about it for a moment “Um, so…ten brothers?” she sounded very surprised “I didn’t think demon females could have that many children.” When his silence filled the room she turned in his arms to find him highly irritated “Rioran?”

Eventually he sighed “I did promise to tell you everything didn’t I.” he growled “None of my siblings share the same mother. None of them.” He gave it a moment to let it sink in “My father, when he had been demon king, had been amazing in his post; the best the western lands had ever seen. However,” he rolled his eyes “He was shit for a father and as a male he was pretty much a slut. You can’t even call him a whore because at least whores get paid.” The redhead smiled wryly when her jaw dropped “The ten brothers I have are all half-human…well three of them have elven blood but whatever. Those are just the ones that figured out that he was their father, gods only knows how many women he’s actually gotten pregnant in his lifetime. There is one, Viron, who is half dragon that my…” he sighed “father actually gave birth to.”

Liari just stared at him, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape “You…can do that?” was what eventually came out of her mouth after a very long moment of silence. His face actually turned red slightly in embarrassment.

“He wanted to see what it was like.” He muttered darkly “Demonic magic directly alters our bodies how we wish should we have the power and knowledge to master said spells. We can be any age and any gender, the only thing we can’t do is change our actual appearance. For example I cannot use demonic spells to make myself a brunette or turn my eyes different colors, for that we use illusion spells. Usually the shape changing is outward appearances only but if you are skilled and powerful enough a demon can actually fully transform themselves internally as well. This normally isn’t done, we are born a certain gender and really hold no desire to be anything else. My father, the slut that he is, wanted to ‘do something different’. And before you ask no, we normally do not do that.” Rioran scowled “It’s actually frowned upon, not to mention taboo but my father never gave a shit about things like that…otherwise he wouldn’t have cheated on Arlillia’s – that’s my sister – mother for centuries before she left him.”

He could tell she was absolutely dumbstruck by the information. Rioran hated telling people about it, male demons reproducing was a line that should never be crossed – that went for females impregnating females. He had never taken it out on Viron but his older brother had received a lot of shit for it growing up. It wasn’t because demons had gender taboos, because they didn’t. The problem was that demon bodies were not made to be a gender opposite of their birth for an extended period of time – or permanently for that matter – thusly many children from such unions had a very high chance of being deformed or even still born. His father was lucky he hadn’t died from it. Had that bastard done it out of love Rioran would have been more accepting of it, but he had done it for shits and giggles. The old man’s existence was embarrassing, none of his children liked to claim him.

“Oh.” Was all his poor lifemate could say. He sighed.

“Well, you wanted to know so now you know.”

Once again there was a long pause. The brunette buried her face in his chest and he held her, dipping his head to breathe in her scent. For some reason she reminded him of the forest, it was a pleasant smell.

“Rioran?” the sun was rising and there was the small jerking motion denoting that the airship was about to take off. Her voice sounded muffled in his chest.

“What is it, Vampireling?”

Pause “So…you can turn yourself into a woman?”

It took a moment for Rioran to react to the question and when he did he found himself wanting to laugh. She could be really cute sometimes. Instead of answering her he whispered a guttural-sounding command. The vampire had been half asleep when she had asked the question but when his body began to shrink and become thinner she sat up slightly, astonished.

He was still lying on the bed, bright green eyes lit with amusement. Even his clothes had shifted to fit his new body. Long red hair framed a thin face with plush red lips, the body frame was voluptuous and when Liari’s eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of her head the female Rioran laughed. Even her laugh sounded deep and sultry.

“Ever heard of a succubus?” Rioran asked her with a grin “The stories about them are directly associated with demons, mostly because this frame I’m sporting is the standard female’s frame. Many shift their forms to something a little less…curvy. Rias is a prime example of this, she’s extremely thin for a female of our species.”

A loud yawn was the initial response although she did look rather shocked and intrigued. Another command was spoken and her lifemate returned to normal “Did you –“ another yawn “ever go around as a female before?”

Raising an arm in invitation she laid back down, curling up against him, said arm going around her slender frame “A few times,” he admitted “I’ve been alive for a long time. I normally don’t shift my shape unless I have to, I like me the way I am.”

Liari smiled softly “That’s because you’re conceited.”

The demon king snorted “Yes, yes I am. Now go to sleep, Vampireling, you will need it for the confrontation tonight.” Especially if my suspicions are correct.

xxxxx

To the couple’s surprise, Naliel seemed as calm and polite as he always was when he finally knocked on their door an hour after the sun had set. It would take days for them to reach the Bavarian kingdom but the ride so far was smooth and seemed effortless.

When Rioran had answered the door Liari had been standing over by the windows, looking out at the sky. She turned only briefly towards them before looking back out the window although both males knew she had her full attention on them.

“Liari,” Rioran motioned for her to come over “you’re not an outsider, don’t act like one.”

Pale cheeks filled with color and a sheepish expression came over her. Nodding, she walked over to the table that Rioran had motioned for Naliel to sit at. Cool blue eyes took in the room with open appreciation. A small smile emerged and as he turned to Rioran to speak the demon held up a hand.

“Don’t. Go. There.” The redhead warned. Naliel was a highly observant individual who missed little. He knew Rioran was a cheapskate and he knew his relationship with his lifemate was rocky. Then there had been his small jealous outburst last night. The half-elf’s mouth closed but the smile didn’t disappear.

“Good evening,” he says politely, sitting down. He avoided Liari’s gaze although only Rioran had noticed. He wasn’t going to apologize, but he’d talk to the hunter about it later. He didn’t want Naliel to think he couldn’t even look at his lifemate without him biting his head off “You have…questions for me, I am assuming.” A sigh slipped through his lips “I will save you a few. Last night I had ended up meeting someone I had thought long dead.”

Rioran crossed his arms “Is his name Veciel Liunos?”

The complete and total shock and surprise on Naliel’s face made the demon king’s expression harden and his eyes narrowed with suspicion “That…how did…?” he shook his head “Nevermind, I am sure you have your methods. Liunos is our clan’s name, as you are well aware. There are sub houses within and Veciel came from one of the strongest. Two hundred years ago he had been a newly ordained elementalist although his natural affinity was with water.”

The young vampire looked confused “Elementalist?”

“It’s mostly an elven title,” Rioran explained to her “Like all other magical creatures, elves have natural affinities to an element. However, elves can also learn and become rather competent in all elemental affinities, they’re the only race that can. Demons and dragons are very limited with what we can do concerning affinities but we are more powerful than others.” He looked back at Naliel “So I’m assuming from the way you worded yourself that he was the walking dead we sensed.”

He nodded “Yes…” there was something else, something deeper and darker. Rioran could sense it but that was it “So then somehow he had been dabbling with Olde Magick.”

“Yes,” the brunette sighed “When he…” this time his discomfort was clearly visible and it took him a moment before continuing “before he was killed he revealed to me that he had been dabbling in the art. I…must ask that you ask me no further details, I do not wish to answer them.”

The statement surprised Rioran; Naliel had never been reluctant to reveal information before.

“It feels personal…” Liari. He agreed with his lifemate. “What did the now undead elementalist have to say to you?”

Blue eyes closed and Naliel took a breath before continuing “He has Sarnaiel…my lover who I thought had died five years ago. He wishes for me to assist him – in what I do not know – and then he will return him to me. He said he would be in the Bavarian kingdom.”

“Whatever it is, I am sure it is not good.” The half-elf nodded slightly in agreement and Rioran scowled, he’d discuss a plan of action for that later. Right now he wanted to solve his suspicions “Naliel, you claimed that you were always close to the dark elf, you always felt a pull towards him?”

“What?” the sudden change of topic had confused him for a moment and he frowned thoughtfully at the redhead “I…yes. We both did. Sarnaiel had fallen for me when we had been but small children, not even an adult in human years. It was not until my twenty first year that we became lovers, but we had always been very close, like brothers.”

Alright, that was promising “You said your mother was half Dukal, what sort of race of human is that?”

Naliel’s frown deepened and he stared at Rioran, not quite understanding where he was going with all of this “They are a nomadic and small band of humans from the deserts. They do have somewhat of a patriarchy going and it was one of their princesses that had married my human grandfather.”

“And you’re absolutely certain about these group of individuals?”

That was the breaking point “Rioran, what are you trying to insinuate? What does my mother have to do with anything?”

“She has a lot to do with things, at least the ones concerning you.” He raised a finger when the other male opened his mouth to protest “Your mother held no magical abilities? Just answer the question, there is a method to my madness I assure you.”

“No…not that I was aware of. Humans normally cannot cast magical spells.”

“And you say she died of old age? Did you see the body at the funeral?”

“No, she had been cremated – Rioran, where are you going with this?”

He continued without answering “What color were your mother’s eyes?”

“She…” Naliel looked completely confused and a little frustrated “they were a pale yellow, almost gold. Father had always commented on how her eyes complimented her skin tone.”

There was silence for a moment and then he held out his hand “Give me your communication stone that you use to contact Lavern.” When the still confused half-elf began to comply he continued “Naliel, I’m going to say this very clearly before I call your father out on his bullshit. There is no such thing as a Dukal group of humans. I have heard the term ‘Dukal’ used before many centuries ago and it was not until I thought on it that I remembered. The word has a meaning but it has nothing to do with humans.”

Since he had already conveyed that much to Liari she did not look surprised although Naliel did. Numbly, he held out the pale blue stone and Rioran took it.

“I…do not believe I understand…”

“You will in a minute.” Channeling energy into the stone he placed it down on the table and an image of the lord of Liunos lands appeared in front of them. He looked confused, taking in the vampire, his son and then the expression on the demon king’s face.

The two had a small staring contest and when Lavern sighed Rioran spoke up “How long did you think you were going to be able to keep this shit from me, Lavern?” the redhead snapped “I know it’s been a few centuries, old man but surely you do not think my intelligence lacking.”

To Naliel’s surprise his father closed his eyes briefly before shaking his head lightly “I would never think you unintelligent, western king. I was aware that this would eventually happen and –“

“And yet you said nothing.” The demon snapped “I do not enjoy surprises nor do I enjoy being manipulated. Naliel’s appearance in vampire territory was not coincidence, you knew I was there and you sent him. So I am then assuming you knew of the undead elementalist.” His smirk looked more like him bearing his fangs. “As much as I’d love to believe you had sent your only son out to romp around the area where a demon king was currently residing because you were concerned about the planet or whatever the hells you told him, you and I both know that’s bullshit. The fact that Naliel has the amount of power equivalent to an immortal did not bypass me, Lavern. You had a damn good suppression spell on him, and I mean a damn good one, but it unlocked when he interacted with the other elf. We both know no half-elf with a human parent should have that much power, why have you been lying to this boy for centuries?”

The room went silent. Naliel merely stared between the demon king and his father in complete disbelief and utter confusion. His earlier thoughtful frown reemerged and he turned his attention to his father “I…what is this that Rioran speaks of, father?” his voice was low and soft “I am afraid I do not understand what is going on here.”

But Lavern’s gaze did not shift from the demon king’s “We didn’t know if it was him or not,” the high elf frowned “when Sarnaiel disappeared I communicated with the spirits. They had hinted to me that he had been taken by one of my people.” A tense pause, he looked at Naliel “Did you tell him about Veciel and his connection with Olde Magick?”

Green eyes snapped to the half-elf with slight irritation “That would have been nice to know.”

Naliel’s expression became haunted and strained before it hardened into an almost scowl “No, I informed him that I had had personal experience with Olde Magick but I did not tell him how…it is…not something I enjoy telling people.” He practically glared up at Rioran “But since you obviously wish to be appeased in the matter I will tell you. Veciel had been given a book before the war ended on Olde Magick. Within it he found a spell that, mixed with alchemy, allowed an individual to produce an offspring regardless of gender as long as you had the right components from both partners. As I said before, Veciel came from a line of powerful elves within our land, he wanted a power and he wanted a legacy of his own.” His smile was bitter “And at the time, I was the second strongest elf of our generation. I wasn’t exactly on board with his plan, so he began to force my compliance through mind control. Sarnaiel killed him before anything had truly happened but not before Veciel literally tried to slice me into pieces. Now then, is there anything else personal you would like to drag out of me or can we please move on? I am quite curious as to what it is you two keep implying and to be honest with you my supposed infinite patience is growing quite short.”

Fuck. Although he didn’t show it, Rioran hadn’t exactly expected that sort of response.

“You’re…very insensitive.” Liari sounded upset with him and he did somewhat feel like an ass. Naliel wasn’t a liar and he wasn’t the type to withhold important information unless it was serious. Almost being raped by an insane elementalist – and Rioran was pretty much positive that was what he had been implying with ‘forced compliance’ – and then sliced to ribbons had probably not been fun. It also explained why the normally calm male had seemed almost half mad last night and why he was currently coming very close to actually losing his temper.

“Alright look,” the redhead put a hand through his hair “I’ll just cut to the chase since this has become much more serious than I had intended. Lavern, I know your wife is alive and more than likely she is now in the room with you.” Had Naliel been standing he probably would have dropped at that news, he looked so stunned “I know this because if she was dead you, being her lifemate, would also be dead. That is how it works with immortals; we are bound body and soul to our other half, one dies, the other dies.” He looked at Naliel “That goes for you. If Sarnaiel had died you would not be alive right now, do you understand what I am saying? Immortals only breed immortals, it does not matter who the other parent was.”

Helplessly, Naliel looked from Rioran to his father “I…”

“Naliel.” The brunette turned to the redhead “Dukal is not a human term, it is a dragon term. I said the last time I had seen a dragon had been around the time the war between the elves had ended. Prior to that, many very small tribes would travel the world, disguised as humans. Dukal is a very old term for the black and brown dragon species, which was why it had sounded so strange to me when you mentioned it. Your grandmother was an immortal, a dragon, and her lifemate was a human. When they bonded, he became immortal. Thusly, your mother is immortal, and so are you. Whether or not your grandparents are still alive I have no idea,” he looked at Lavern’s grim expression “he would have to tell you.”

“He’s…his mother was…?” his lifemate looked just as surprised as Naliel, who of course was struck speechless.

They hid it well. I would not have realized it if the suppression spell hadn’t broken. When I had first met him I had thought it strange how he was so unusually powerful for a half-elf. His mother was half human so he does indeed look like one. I had sensed something strange but I had been unable to pin it down.

Two hands moved through thick black hair. Naliel’s gaze shifted to the floor “My mother is…and Sarnaiel…when I had thought he died it was like…I had felt so…so…”

“I don’t personally know how it feels but I do know of it.” Rioran sighed “You probably felt as if a part of you had been ripped apart and, from what I hear, usually the other looses the will to live. The death of an immortal’s lifemate drives the individual to insanity and eventually death,” he looked at Liari “true separation also does this.”

His gaze shifted back to Naliel and sympathy moved through him. Rioran had been pissed off because he had been lied to but it was Naliel who was currently suffering from the onslaught of information, lies, and betrayal. The redhead had no idea how Naliel was still mentally stable considering that he had thought his lover to have been dead for years “I am almost positive that the two of you are lifemates and thusly had already bonded…how I have no idea, I only know how it works for demons. It means that he is also an immortal.” He paused “Naliel, all being an immortal means is that you do not age and you cannot die unless someone or something doesn’t mortally wound you or your mate. You are not invincible nor all powerful.”

The half-elf merely shook his head “I do not know what to think or what to say to any of this.” He looked at his father “I…why? Why did you say nothing for so long? Why did you have me believe Sarnaiel was dead when you knew…”

“I didn’t know.” Lavern cut in “I had my suspicions, the two of you had held an incredible bond since you had been children, but it…” he sighed “this situation isn’t all of what it seems.” He looked at Rioran “Yes, I sent Naliel because I knew he would run into you sooner or later, one of you would have been drawn to the other’s power and gotten curious. I had suspicions that Veciel had been the one who had been returned from the dead when Sarnaiel had disappeared. The spirits had told me little and I assure you, I tried. Sarnaiel is not of my blood but he is still my son; my search for him had been genuine. I knew that with your kingdom frozen you would hunt down the individuals. I did not believe it a coincidence when I had learned Olde Magick had been involved. I knew Naliel would have been safe with you and yes, I had hoped that you would run into Veciel. Your claims are true…but it was not done out of malice.”

“That doesn’t explain why you lied to him for so long about his heritage,” it was best to move on from that particular topic, Naliel was stressed enough as it was with the bombshells he had been dropped “you knew you had married an immortal, why lie about it? Why did she sit there and pretend to age and fake her death?”

Lavern opened his mouth to speak but then he disappeared. A woman reappeared; she had long thick hair – one could only assume it was black since the stone was only showing the image in sapphire – from what he could tell dark skin and a very stern expression on her face.

“Don’t speak as if you know the entire story, demon.” She snapped “It is not as simple as you are making it sound.”

“…Mother.” It was barely whisper. Slowly, Naliel’s hand raised, fingers trailing along the blue image, unable to believe that what he was seeing was real. “You…you are truly alive.” There was wonder and amazement in his tone.

The young woman turned and her smile was bittersweet “It has been a long time, Naliel – the demon king has finally forced our hands,” she looked at Rioran “I’ll be answering the questions from now on, demon so hurry up and let’s get this started."

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