36
The Flower of Scotland Wilts
Draven’s fingers flexed once, then twice on my birthmark as he continued his kiss and the heat it caused felt almost like a brand. I was just about to pull away, still in fear of what I would see once I did, but then something different happened. Instead of War of the Demon Worlds breaking out, like I thought, Draven just tapped his fingers on my neck a few times more before releasing me.
I didn’t realise but I had even closed my eyes and the second I felt a shiver pass through me I was snapped out of it. It was that feeling people get when they say someone just walked over their grave. Well, it was like that only for me it felt more deeply rooted. As though someone hadn’t just walked over it, but more like first dug it, pushed me in and then buried me alive before doing some boogie dance moves over it!
Thankfully, this feeling soon passed, and the rest of the meal continued on without a hiccup. Now that my belly was happy with its unconventional meal consumed I found myself sat there, content and taking in the rest of the ballroom. I had to admit that I felt quite bad that there weren’t many here that I knew. Which also made me a little sad. I guess I was getting so used to seeing everyone in our supernatural inner circle that I missed the usual faces. But then I realised that now that the war was over, it was time they all got back to ruling their own kingdoms and for everyone to continue on as before. Living their lives the way they always had before I had come along and put an ‘end of the world’ spanner in life’s works.
Jared had his freaky circus fight club and his Hellbeasts to keep him busy. Vincent and Ari had their own issues to deal with, which for some reason I knew I was being kept in the dark about.
I had been disappointed not to see them, but according to Sophia they were currently in London still trying to follow the breadcrumbs in discovering Ari’s past. I knew this was something she needed, and I didn’t blame her, for I could only imagine how hard it must have been waking up each day and not knowing who you truly were.
It was bad enough when I thought my name was Katie and having to learn it was all a lie. But no matter how much I knew she had to do this, a part of me also wished that she wouldn’t. That she would just look at the man who obviously loved her, seeing Vincent the way I knew he wished she would see him and then just let herself be happy. But then again, what did I truly know? After all, in Draven’s world, it wouldn’t have been a stretch to say that I was being kept in the dark about what was really going on.
The truth was I missed Ari and wished she would just come home.
As for the rest of them, last I heard RJ would barely leave Jack’s side, who unfortunately still hadn’t woken up. Draven assured me that everything was being done to try and discover why, along with Seth who had left on his own mission of discovery. But then again, they were another pair that had yet to come together and stop fighting the cosmic pull that fate had thrust upon them.
And last I heard about Lucius, was that he too had returned to his own domain and was… well, doing what Lucius did best…ruling with an iron fist and no doubt a sadistic grin. I smirked to myself when thinking that he was probably finally getting some peace these last few weeks without me around getting myself into trouble. But then again, something in this told me that he no doubt still worried, considering what happened the last time I saw him.
I couldn’t say that I blamed him, as I was somewhat of a liability in their world and let’s face it, when a person needed more than one hand to count the amount of times they had been kidnapped, then yeah, the cards were never in my favour.
As for Sigurd, as usual I had no clue, only that he wasn’t here. Not that this surprised me as he was your typical lone rogue who wasn’t exactly the best team player. Sure, the war had been won with him fighting by our side. But as for being an active council member, then well, let’s just say that I wasn’t going to hold my breath any time soon waiting for that one.
Which left Draven’s usual council on the top table, along with Pip and Adam who were looking more and more like a permanent addition to our family. I had to say this made me more than a little happy, it filled me with joy!
I felt blessed to have Pip in my life as she had become such an important person to me over the past few years that I didn’t know what I would have ever done without her. And the thought of not seeing her for months on end wasn’t something I ever wanted to think about. Besides, from the looks of things, I don’t think Pip was all too thrilled with the idea of being separated either and when it came to Adam, well the motto ‘happy wife, happy life’ was more like his life’s mission and mantra.
I was just starting to take in the rest of the room when I saw Mack step onto the small stage just as the last song ended. The band had been playing throughout our meal but now that most had finished, it looked as if they were about to kick it up a notch. Which begged the question, what was Mack now doing up there? Well, I was about to find out as someone handed him a microphone.
He was dressed like a rock version of a Scotsman and I had to say, looked very handsome in that rough and ready kind of way. He wore an unconventional kilt that was made of black canvas material, pleated at one side, with a large flat panel that wrapped around the front. Its waistband was a series of embossed leather straps etched with what looked like Celtic symbols and the same design was on the square leather bag that was attached to one side.
To this cool gothic take on a traditional Scottish attire, he added a simple white shirt tucked in the kilt, and was rolled up at the sleeves, showing off not only an impressive amount of muscle but also his many tattoos. He wore this shirt unbuttoned around the neck with a loose black silk tie knotted low, that was covered in black leather skulls on the shiny paisley pattern. Heavy biker boots, that were only half laced up, and thick bands of buckled leather around both wrists completed the outfit. His shaved mohawk had been braided many times and then twisted back into a leather tie that showcased his handsome features.
I frowned as I saw the few couples dancing now leaving the open space in the middle, and I wondered what was about to happen. Was there to be an act announced? Then with a nod to Draven from Mack, I looked back in time to see Draven respond in kind before the sound of bagpipes suddenly filled the room. Two men walked around the stage from both sides and started to play the proud Scottish sound, along with two more that followed playing large drums hung around their necks. They were all dressed similar to Mack but then when they stopped playing I was left stunned when I heard a beautiful male voice start singing. I shot back to the man in question and felt my mouth drop when I saw it was in fact Mack who was filling the room with such beauty with his harmonious voice…
“O flower of Scotland
When will we see your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again”
It was when Mack continued on to the second verse that Draven stood, turning to me and held his hand out for me to take. I looked up at him in question when he said,
“I believe I owe my Queen a dance.” At first, I wanted to say no as I knew I would no doubt just make a fool of myself and him for that matter, but then the second I hesitated, he gave me a smirk as though he knew where my thoughts lay and said,
“Put your hand in mine Keira, for I would never let you fall.” The second he said it and the moment I put my hand in his, I couldn’t help but remember his demon’s threat that day…
“Then we will watch as you fall and what will you do…when you have no wings to catch you?”
I shuddered at the thought, as this had been what he had said that night and this was what I now had replaying over and over again in my mind as Draven escorted me to the dance floor. Everyone rose to their feet as we made our way around, making my face hot and flushed from being the centre of attention.
After the second verse the bag pipes started up again just as we made it to the middle of the dance floor. Draven gave my body a small tug and pulled me tight to his frame so that now we could dance just as the chorus was sung by not only Mack, but also the rest of the band. It was a beautiful moment and I soon found myself getting lost in not only the words but also by Draven’s warm touch. He guided me around the floor with ease and made me feel like I could actually dance.
I felt a bit like a Scottish princess in that moment as my heavy skirt flared out to the side every time Draven would spin us around. In fact, I found myself so lost in the moment that I soon forgot about the crowd of people surrounding us all clapping and cheering. I just looked up at Draven and found myself captivated by his purple eyes gazing down at me as he continued to control our movements, making us both move together as one.
Before I knew it, the song had ended just as Draven brought me closer still, lifting me with an arm around my waist so that our lips were mere inches apart. Then he kissed me quickly before the next song started to play, which had a different vibe and was one less lively.
I was at least glad to see that now others had started to join us on the dance floor. They each took to the steps with practiced ease so that now we all flowed around the room, rotating around the space like a finely tuned cog powering a machine none of us could see.
I had no idea what I was doing but just knew that if I held onto Draven then I would be okay. Then the people all started to get closer to us and we moved faster around the room, making me feel as though if I let go at any minute, I would soon get swept up in the storm around us. As I spun around I would notice people staring at us, laughing in a kind of sinister way. The men who had once played the bagpipes on the stage now stepped forward with violins and girls rose from their seats to play their flutes when their time came.
“Draven?” I said his name as my panic started to mount as the images around me started to blur the second we travelled faster. I felt him lower my body backwards, holding my waist in a tight grip and as the tempo of the luring new song started, I let my head fall back. It felt as though I was drugged and now the woman’s voice that was filling the room, singing in a different language felt as though she was putting a spell on me.
It was only when I started to really focus that I noticed the room was slowly changing around me. The rich and sunny colours of autumn started to morph into the shadows giving way to the darker side of my fears. I frowned as the panelled walls started to turn from mahogany to muted colours of grey stone, framed by crimson banners with a demonic looking symbol at their centres in painted tarnished gold.
Then mighty stone pillars seemed to shoot up from nowhere and now stood tall around the room in the image of mighty giant sentinels looking down at all the people. Equally large stone weapons of death held firmly in their grasp and helmets of burnt gold sat atop lowered heads. They each looked down, holding the plinths upon their colossal shoulders which then became part of the structure of holding up the scalloped roof. One that was carved to look like dragon scales in between the series of arches.
It was as if someone had taken the room and expanded it, stretching it to three times its size. I couldn’t understand what was happening as I knew I wasn’t dreaming, for I could still feel Draven’s hands on me. Was this part of the spell, part of the magic of the evening? Well, looking at all the people now cloaked and wearing gruesome masks, I had to say that it was unlikely.
I felt as though I had suddenly been dumped in some demonic version of that childhood classic movie, Labyrinth, but if that was the case then did that make Draven, Jareth and me Sarah and was I, at some point, to smash my way out of this illusion?
This thought finally brought me to my senses enough to pull myself back up and face the man that still held me, hoping like never before, that it was still the same man I treasured and loved.
It wasn’t.
I released a muted cry of shock that left me on a breathless whisper as I now gazed upon Draven wearing a mask of death. It even looked to be made from real bone and was the shape of a decorated horned skull that fit snugly over the top part of his face, cheeks and nose before following the curve of his top lip, covering it slightly. However, the fangs I saw gleaming just under it were all his and I couldn’t help but try and pull away at the sight.
This seemingly innocent trance I had been ensnarled into had quickly spiralled into my nightmare, and I needed to escape. His grip tightened on my waist as he snarled down at me. Then I looked into his eyes, ones now painted black beneath the skull to look even more intimidating. I started to struggle in his hold before demanding of him,
“Let me go, Draven!” At the time and even when I said this, I didn’t think for one minute it would have an effect on him, but then suddenly he surprised me by letting me go. I let out a small yelp of shock as I expected the pain to follow, but it never came thanks to the massive frame of Draven now behind me. He caught me by the arms and with a quick, gentle push, I was back to standing upright before I felt him disappear. It happened in seconds and I stood for a moment, too stunned to move. Then, coming to my senses, the impossible world around me snapped sharply into focus, I whipped around ready to face this new version of Draven.
But he was gone.
“Draven?” I whispered his name, quietly pleading for him, the Draven I knew, to return and save me. I looked around the space where I stood, desperately trying to seek him out, but all that met me was this new demonic reality. Each of the guests who had once held demonic masks to their faces, had now changed yet again. No, now what covered their appearance were the stiff dead and tortured leftovers from the humans they had peeled the faces from. Haunted features frozen in time were all the humanity that remained in this world… their death and me still living.
I felt sick as I tried to push my way through them all, knocking into one man and making him lower his fat human face mask, one he had stuffed a golden apple into its mouth. But the second the face was lowered I soon wished for the grim face of death back, as what lay beneath it was far worse than that of staring at a bloated corpse.
Rotting red flesh hung in sags by his cheeks and three rows of yellowish brown teeth were in place of his lips. A protruding bloody bone from his chin that looked to have been forced somehow through the raw flesh that surrounded it. In fact, it looked more like a horn, that tapered down into a blunt point. One that at some point he thought must have been a good idea to get pierced, as it also had three large hoops tunnelled through the centre, hanging down overlapping each other. The centre of his eyes reminded me of lizard skin that seemed to burn brighter green in the cracks, as he looked me up and down.
I stumbled away from him and tried to squeeze past the others, this time without touching them and as I did, I felt a presence watching me as I went by. I turned in time to see who I thought was Draven, but as he turned his back on me, he became lost in the crowd and quickly disappeared.
“Draven...Draven?!” I said his name again only this time a group of people all dressed like gothic buccaneers started laughing at me. Their masks were scarred skulls held to their faces by a skeleton hand and a forearm they all held by the bone. One of them even had a small model pirate ship nestled amongst plumes of red feathers in the brim of her fur trimmed hat.
I turned away from their mocking stares and cackling laughter as I weaved my way through the crowd in search of him. What was this place? Why was I suddenly here and not there, back in my own time?
Was this what had happened, had I somehow been transported to another time, or worse, was this a glimpse into my future? I had no answers but only an endless stream of questions that were leading me down a deeper road to nowhere. No, my only hope was to find Draven and try to get him to explain what had happened, or to at least speak with him to assess what the Hell was going on!
But that in itself seemed like an impossible task, as first I had to find him and find him amongst a sea of demons no less. The music seemed to increase its tempo into a darker more sinister theme and it became more like the drums of war than that of a ball, as I fought my way around the crowded space. I kept seeing a glimpse of him every time I turned around, catching him for a second, staring at me through the crowd with an intensity that had me near cowering from him.
I passed a group that started snarling at me through moving dead lips, ones that seemed to be attached to the rest of the mask with hammered rivets so that the jaw could move. I took a step back and straight into a hard body, where hands came to hold the tops of my arms to steady me. I felt the deep growl rumbling up my back as it travelled up his chest before sounding by my ear. It was a terrifying sound and I shuddered as a chill crept up my spine. At first, I thought it was directed at me, but when I saw the once snarling group in front me start to lower their heads in submission, I knew it was at them not me.
“What a pretty little slave you will make for me,” his rough raspy voice hummed in my ear just before he let me go. I spun on my heel so that this time I would catch him with an outstretched hand. But the second I turned he was gone again and my fist closed around the empty space he had once filled. I let my arm drop and I swear I could hear his amusement in the background as he witnessed my hopelessness for himself.
“…A beauty with chains against this delicate skin.” I turned again the second I heard his voice in my ear, feeling his lips touching the delicate skin he spoke of.
“Draven!” I shouted this time, when once more I was faced with nothing but our hellish audience. I could hear his laughter echoing around the huge space and I looked up and around to see where it was coming from. This was when I noticed the whole ballroom was surrounded by a high balcony, one that curved around the room’s massive stone warriors that this time, all seemed to be watching me. That’s when I saw a shadowed figure stood there above us all, reminding me of times long past, back in Afterlife. I knew it was Draven thanks to his white bone mask that caught the flickering candlelight. He was watching me, hands gripping the banister as if he was holding himself back from just jumping down and claiming me.
Then someone bumped into me, first from behind and then to the side and I had to take a step forward to right myself. I looked up just in time to see a small cloud of stone dust float down, falling to the floor from where his hands had crushed indents in the railing. The red of his demonic eyes burning bright through the holes in his mask.
A commotion to my side made me look away and I saw the two who had bumped into me drop to their knees, clutching at their throats as if they had been poisoned. Then I felt the bile rise up as I watched in chilling disgust as their necks started to melt, as if the contents of their stomachs had been filled with acid and it was overflowing up their food pipe.
I turned away from the sight before I threw up and stumbled back a step. This time people moved out of my way pretty quickly, no doubt too afraid to receive the same fate forced upon them by their master. My gaze snapped back to where he had been on the balcony, only to find it now empty.
What was he playing at here? I felt like some small helpless mouse being played with by a demonic cat. He was toying with me, enjoying the game of chase, one that I knew was impossible to outrun. But I knew I had to try because right now, I knew that trying to find him was more dangerous than trying to get away from him. The game had changed and whereas before I thought he was my only hope, now I knew he would only lead to my destruction.
So, I looked around and spotted an arched doorway, hoping that it might help lead me home, or even better…
Break the spell.
But as I felt myself gaining distance and squeezing my way through the crowd with only a handful of people still left between me and the door, the sound of his commanding voice made me stop. Frozen against my will the second he said that foreign word.
“Keira, BATILTU!” Hearing the sound of my name, coming this time from the Draven I knew, made me turn to face him but the second I did I knew then it was a trap. Because the Draven I knew and loved didn’t face me now.
No, he had just made me believe it was, as another way to control me. I looked back at him to see the room had now halved, split down the middle creating a path straight to him of parted damned souls standing either side. And right at the end of that demonic path stood the man himself looking just as powerful in his suit as if he’d been clad in battle gear ready to charge his army into the war on Hell.
I wanted to cower away from him the second he raised his hand and motioned me forward with a flick of his fingers. The only defiance I managed was to shake my head at him telling him no, not the running towards that doorway as fast as my legs could carry me that I had been hoping for.
Everyone first looked to me and then back to their master to see what he would do next. I then had to wonder how many of them were surprised to see him smirking because of my refusal or did they just know something I didn’t. Thankfully, in the end, my senses must have kicked in because I decided not to stick around any longer to find out.
He must have known what I was planning because my last look back at him had him shaking his head at me, telling me no. A firm warning I ignored. So, with the last of my will as my own, I turned and ran from him to the archway not far from reach. I didn’t even need to push past anyone as, like the others, they quickly parted as if I was Moses in a dress running for his life before a sea named Draven came crashing down all around me.
Then, just as I was about to reach it, I heard a thundering noise that made the floor beneath me shake and at first I thought the floor was going to split open beneath my feet. I even looked down half expecting to see a mighty crack in the mirrored floor in between my legs ready to open up into a chasm, plunging me deeper into the belly of this Hell.
But that didn’t happen. No, what did happen was that the arch opening was there one second and then the next an almighty stone axe was being hammered down over the entrance, now blocking it entirely. I followed the smooth carved rock up to find the colossal warrior now looking down at me as if I was an ant he was waiting for permission to crush with his foot.
I staggered back about five steps, still unable to lower my astonished face from the giant that had just come to life. It was only when I saw it move his head slightly to look beyond me that I turned too. And what I saw had me looking towards the cause, utter dumbfounded to find Draven there commanding the gigantic stone warrior with only a flick of his hand. If I was scared enough to run from him before, then now I was utterly terrified and had quickly hit a state of desperation. So, when he made his next command of me, I found myself shaking my head in panic.
But if this was my only chance to run from this nightmare, well then, I was going to take it…
So, I took it and ran.