Chapter Seven
Dante spent the remainder of the day trying to appease Chief Tecumseh. He was angry and rightly so. His human slave population was disappearing, especially human women, and the Erassan people were worried about those of their own species who had been killed and left with black veins visible through their paled skin. The people of Eriborough were a suspicious lot, and wild rumors passed through the town with uninhabited abandon. Chief Tecumseh told him of the whispers of ghosts, evil beasts, and even devils wandering the woods.
Dante promised him that his people would be protected. At long last, with the king’s reassurance, Chief Tecumseh informed him of the other happenings in the south, the whispers of a leader with terrible powers; whispers of the reemergence of one of the terrors of the past. Rumors that a Soul Eater walked the Earth once again were spreading in the dark corners of Eriborough and the towns surrounding it.
This was alarming news. A Soul Eater was an ancient power that was developed long ago during times of constant feud. The first Soul Eater was made during one of the first major wars on Terranovum, as a way for D’Lormere to interrogate war prisoners captured in battle. The power of a Soul Eater was terrifying, and not to be underestimated. A man who was given those powers could use them to enter another’s mind, shift through memories, attain answers, and worst of all, once he was in that person’s mind, that power never left. The Soul Eaters fed off that pain and the terror in their victims’ heads. War prisoners always went mad, living with the constant, agonizing pain of a Soul Eater in their minds for the rest of their lives, until they eventually committed suicide.
He had been told that the Soul Eaters died off long ago, along with the technology that created these monsters. Finding it difficult to believe that a Soul Eater was alive and well again, he listened to the information without a word.
“If the rumors are true, my king, I am afraid for our people. A monster like that needs to be stopped, once and for all.”
“Chief Tecumseh, I’m sure these are just rumors, whispers to explain the strange happenings here in town. Once we figure out what is causing these Erassan deaths and human disappearances, I will make it my personal mission to solve this mystery for my people.”
“I’m sure you will, my king.”
With that, Chief Tecumseh bowed and took his leave. It was growing later in the day, and it was time to retire for the evening meal. Tomorrow, Dante would investigate the bodies of the Erassans who were killed, and see if Tala could scent anything on them. Then they would search the woods, to see if they could find clues, or better yet, a trail to whomever was doing these strange deeds.
Dante walked back to the carriage, changing course with the thoughts in his mind. He thought of the gorgeous beauty who was waiting for him within the carriage. Her soft chestnut hair, beautiful eyes, and sumptuous lips all complemented her luscious creamy skin. Imagining her body lying over his knees, her bottom pale and waiting for him to spank, was a heady thought that left him reeling. He felt himself harden at the visual image.
Thus far, she had been delightfully submissive. He was still floored that she had relaxed herself around him and listened to her body, asking him to spank her for the first time, even if she hadn’t meant to. The way her body had responded to his domination had been so beautiful, so sensual, and most of all, dangerously addictive. Her body wanted to submit to him. The only thing that would be even more intoxicating would be when her mind completely submitted to him as well.
He wanted to worship her body and fully claim her as his. He wanted to lay her down on the bed, part her legs, and make her quiver with need for him. After this trying day of political relations and making others happy with promises of protection, he wanted nothing more than to curl up with Lana and make her body sing with pleasure. All he wanted to do at that moment was kiss her lips, and trail his own lips over every inch of her body until she begged him to let her seek her release. Tonight, he would show her that he, and he alone, would master her body.
Climbing up the stairs, he opened the door to the carriage and strode inside, ready to tell Wes and Emma to sleep elsewhere this night. He walked inside, only to find Emma sitting on the couch, her head in her hands and sobs wracking her shoulders.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” he asked, concern striking through his thoughts of Lana’s naked body. Alarm began to bubble up within him as he realized Lana wasn’t in the carriage with her, as she should have been. Emma raised her head and pushed locks of blond hair out of her face. Her soft eyes looked bloodshot. She must have been crying for a while. Seeing him now, her doe eyes widened in fear.
“Please don’t be angry with me.”
“Why would I be angry with you, Emma?”
“I tried to get her to come back here, I really tried!” she blurted out, before fresh tears began to slide down her face. Her bottom lip quivered and sobs shook her anew once again.
“Who, Emma? Who are you talking about?” he asked, almost not wanting to know the answer.
Emma tried to calm herself once again before continuing. Dante watched her, his concern growing by the moment.
“Lana, sir. I tried to get her to come with me after she left the carriage to find you. She wouldn’t come back. We were climbing up the stairs to return to the carriage and she turned away. I watched her run off into the woods, and she hasn’t been seen since.”
“Lana ran away into the woods?” Dante felt a cold sweat break out over his skin.
“Yes, sir. Please don’t hurt me. Don’t be angry with me. Please,” Emma whispered, fear gripping her face.
“How long ago?”
“I don’t know, it’s been hours. I thought she’d come back by now, but it’s beginning to grow dark. I’m so sorry. I’m so scared for her, out there alone in the woods in the dark by herself.”
Dante stood, anger billowing up through him, enveloping his growing panic. The woods were not a safe place. The enemy hid out there. She could be taken like the other humans here in Eriborough, to disappear and never be seen again. If that wasn’t terrible enough, strange and dangerous creatures lived deep within the forests she wandered into, beasts that even he was afraid of.
He looked down at Emma, and could feel the redness take over his eyes. Knowing he was a terrifying sight in this state, he didn’t care. His Lana was in danger. Emma shrank away and stared at him.
“You should have told me when she ran hours ago. Wes will punish you for that, and I promise you, your bottom will be sore for quite some time. You are extremely lucky it is our law that no Erassan male other than your owner may touch you. I would spank the living daylights out of you. If you were mine, I’d make you get your own switch from the trees outside and you would be completely naked when you did it.”
Emma dropped her eyes and stared at her hands, every muscle trembling from his directed anger at her.
“Yes, sir,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Dante swiftly turned and left the carriage. He had to find Wes and Tala immediately. Anger, intermingled with fear, seethed through him, but he forced himself to spring into action. He stole away from the carriage into the camp.
After everything they had already been through, he could hardly believe she wanted to escape him. He had thought she was beginning to care for him, and he knew he was falling for her too. Imagining her smiling face once again, her soft giggles escaping her lips, and her moans of pleasure, a stark sadness ran through him. Did she not love him as well?
He roared out orders as he crossed their camp, and the royal guard sprang to action, not questioning his current mood. A small group of wolf riders came together and took off into the woods to see if they could track Lana’s scent.
Wes organized a larger search party, and ordered them to return if they found anything. Wolves, lions, and horses pounded off into the woods. The entire camp was in chaos.
Dante quickly found Tala and swung up onto her back. He yelled to Wes that he was returning to Eridell in order to fetch the realm’s protector and prized sorceress, Morgana. She was the human gifted with the most powerful magic, out of all those who were graced with the gift. Wes nodded, and Dante took off, Tala’s long limbs covering great stretches of land with a single bound. If they kept up that pace, it wouldn’t be long before he reached the capital and fetched his sorceress.
During the ride, he could think of nothing but the woman he loved alone in the woods, terrified about what was around the next bend. Even worse, he imagined her captured by whatever terror haunted the small town of Eriborough. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that she would be safe; that soon, she would be back in his arms. Just wanting her back in his protection, he rode on through the night.
He thought about how he would punish her for running away. He would find her, make sure she was safe, and correct her for disobeying his command never to run from him. She would beg for him the next time she was in his arms, he was sure of it.
He reached Eridell in a matter of hours, and woke Morgana as she was sleeping in her bed. She didn’t mutter a single complaint, but dressed quickly for departure. She jumped up on Tala’s back and held onto Dante before he took off to return to camp.
Upon their return, the royal guard gave him a wide birth, following orders without a word. Dante was angry, and worried for the woman he found himself growing to love. He had to rescue her, no matter what, and no one would get in his way until she was returned to his arms.