Chapter 32

Davik

He used the whip again, demanding to know how I had gotten my abilities and what had been used. I tuned him out, thinking of other things, when a strange tickle occurred in the back of my head. Not on the skin, but deep inside, not unlike when I found the fire that triggered my abilities that first time. The tickle appeared just after a strike of the whip and after two more, it became much stronger. Instead of a tickle, I began to feel emotion, but it seemed off as if it were not my own. I felt fear, panic, then determination, followed by elation.

I focused on these new sensations and I was able to remove my awareness from the whipping as I tried to make sense of what I was feeling. I now felt pity and sadness, followed by anger and rage. Next, an urgency appeared, as if someone needed to be found and it hit me what had happened. Somehow, I was feeling someone else’s emotions - not unlike when I had the dreams about Brant, or when Brenson appeared in my dreams. I pondered who it could be when a feeling of relief, love and lust was sent my way, breaking my thoughts for a moment.

If they were connected to me, then they were like me - but no one was like me. Except that I had shared a blood oath with Janet, and she had gotten hit with the curare. I still could not understand how this had happened, but it gave me confidence. While I mused, I was still feeling her emotions, though I could not feel the target of them. There was happiness, shyness, eagerness, worry, still a bit of lust, but buried deep was love. Love for this person who she was with and my heart sank as I realized that she felt differently than I had suspected. Still, the person she loved would be a lucky person indeed and I would hope for nothing but the best for them, though a part of me was disappointed. I had been distracted by my thoughts, and I did not notice that my lack of reaction had enraged Brenson. He tossed the whip on the floor and picked up the club he had used earlier, hitting me in the body again and again before hitting me in the back of the head, causing me to lose consciousness.

Lillian

“Okay, you need to explain the reasons why you think this is a good idea, especially since we do not know how this works or what effects it might have.”

“The main reason is to save Davik! We have no idea how many thugs and possibly soldiers he has at his disposal, standing between us and him. I am not going to lose Davik now, - not after finding him - and I will do whatever it takes to make sure he comes home. I would do the same if it were you in there, without reservation!”

“We do not know if it can be passed on by you, Janet, it could be something specific to Davik. You are also forgetting one thing, they would all be emotionally linked to him on the most intimate of levels. They will feel every positive and negative emotion he feels, and we do not know if this connection could become strong enough for them to know each other’s thoughts. They could end up tied to you instead, putting you in the same position Davik might end up in. The biggest issue I have is that we do not know how long it took before you became immune enough to survive the dose of curare and we do not have the time to run experiments.”

“If we wish to have victory and bring Davik home, then we need to do this, but I will not force it on them. They will have to choose if they want to take this chance, knowing the risks and rewards involved. Besides, I am sure Davik would not mind a harem of beautiful women tied to him for as long as he lives.”

I could not help but snicker as I imagined the look on Davik’s face the moment he found out he had seven gorgeous women tied to him through his gift. Then I felt a sensation in my gut, and I wondered what it would be like to be like him, tied to him that way. The problem was, how would that be possible, given my unique circumstances. The results could be disastrous - it could not work at all, or it could kill me. Did I want to take such a risk, when the results could be fatal, just to be connected to him. The answer took but a moment to appear. Yes, I would. In fact, I would test the process on myself first; that way, my conscience would be clear.

“Fine, but we will do this my way,” I answered, still unsure of myself and what I was hoping to have happen. “It will take me only a little while to make the potion, once I get the materials.”

“Whatever you want, Lillian, but I do not want you to do anything that you do not agree with. I would hate for you to feel like your moral compass was made askew because of an idea I had.”

“Do not worry, Janet. We have some time before Sebastian will be back. You must be starving.”

Davik

I awoke sometime later, to the sensation of something wet and cool being rubbed against my skin. I opened my eyes to find Ivy with a small rag, cleaning the sweat, blood and grime from my body. She had a sad look on her face, as she hummed a soft tune to herself, oblivious that I had woken up. I decided to close my eyes and enjoy the pleasurable reprieve for as long as it lasted, that is, until I felt her hand as it ran across my chest. I opened my eyes to see her standing there, lightly biting her lower lip as her hand explored my chest and stomach.

“I am glad you approve, but I do not think you want to get caught enjoying yourself like that, not that I did not enjoy it myself.”

She let out a squeak and jumped back, my words startling her out of her trance and a light blush appearing on her face.

“I am sorry, Davik, it is just that I have never seen a man that looks as you do, nor have I ever seen someone who was not scarred by my master’s whip.”

“It is part of what makes me special and what enrages your master, I would imagine. I would like to thank you for not telling him what we talked about, it means a lot to know you would keep that from him.”

Her blush deepened and she cast her gaze down at the floor, but the large smile on her face told me she was happy.

“I was instructed to clean you then to feed you some more broth. The master does not monitor my cooking or my portions, so I have given you much more this time. I have also added something special for you, that I know you will appreciate. I am sure you will thank me when the time is right, so please enjoy.”

I was confused by her vague statement, but I was feeling famished, so I eagerly awaited the bowl and its contents. When the broth hit my lips, I drank of it hungrily as she slowly tilted the bowl more and more. It was not until I got to the last few gulps that I came across her special addition to the broth, a small metal key. I caught it before I made the mistake of accidentally swallowing it and placed it under my tongue.

“You need to be careful, little one, I do not want you to get into trouble if this key goes missing.”

“It won’t, Davik. It was Violet’s key, but she left it in her room when she left. Seeing as she has no doubt been captured, along with the remains of her clothing, the master will not notice as it should have left with her.”

“Thank you, Ivy, I swear I will get you out of here, but you need to go somewhere that can keep you safe once the fighting starts.”

She nodded and said, “I have a place I can hide, but I never go there when the master has changed, else he will find it and me. When he is not a beast, he never can find me, though I get punished later when I finally emerge from my spot. I must go now, but I hope that your friends arrive soon, tomorrow will be the cat of nine tails and the day after, he will start cutting off extremities.”

I nodded and watched as she left. Once she was gone, I began to test the length of the chain attached to my leg shackles. While he did what he could to keep my toes off the ground, he did not think to shorten the chain and I had enough to carry out my next move. I used my strength to pull myself up until my face was next to my right hand and removed the key from my mouth and placed it in my palm. Now, I needed to endure what came next, until the others arrived.

Lillian

Janet, her six soldiers and I were in Davik’s room. We did not want to tell the others of our plans just yet and were worried that they would take it the wrong way.

“We have called you six here to talk about a delicate subject, but that could have positive changes occur to everyone.”

The girls looked at one another apprehensively, not sure where I was going with this, worried that it could be something bad.

Janet stepped forward, “As you know, I have woken up changed. We believe that the blood oath I made with Davik allowed his curse to travel into my body, which is why the curare did not kill me. Apparently Davik has an immunity to both curare and Wolf’s Bane, due to his unique curse. Lillian worked on a hunch and gave me a potion that was like the initial doses she had been giving Davik, leading up to his change. When I woke up, I was like him in every way, but there is something more. I am now linked with him, feeling his emotions and possibly more over time.”

She stepped back and I continued, “Janet believes that the curse in her blood could be used to make more like herself and Davik; however there are some factors to consider. We do not know if anyone other than Davik can transmit the curse and we do not know if it needs time to build up in the body. Janet took the blood oath prior to leaving Cartha, meaning that she has had weeks for the curse to build up in her system. Given the strength of the Wolf’s Bane and curare needed for the change, it could kill you, instead.”

Irenia raised her hand and said, “How would you be able to tell if we would be able to change?”

“Because we would follow the same system that changed Janet. First, the person choosing the change would perform a blood oath with Janet, then after an hour, they will receive a cut from Violet’s blade. If the curse is active, the potency on the blade will not kill them, instead, it will place the person into a deep sleep. Then if they do enter the sleep, the curse was active, and they only need to be administered the potion.

Do not make this choice lightly, as you all know Voguel have extended lifespans. Celka was not sure if my curse or Davik’s worked the same way, we could have short lifespans or much longer ones. Then there is the fact you will have a connection to Davik, sharing your emotions between one another. We do not know if it is specific to Davik, or if the new addition would only be linked to Davik and Janet. Perhaps those who receive the curse through Janet will only be tied to her, but we are in unknown territory here, with no idea the repercussions of what could happen. You need to think long and hard about this, because this connection could grow, until even your thoughts are shared.”

Kayla raised her hand, “Um ... who would be the first to go? Given how dangerous it is, I know you would not want to possibly hurt us.”

“I will be the one to be changed next, as I do have a bit of an immunity, though not a full one like Davik. If it should occur that I do not slip into the same sleep, I will have a tonic made to quickly neutralize the curare.”

“Are you worried, given that you are not human, though not Voguel? Should you not cure yourself of your current curse?”

“I already tried, the night Davik left in his exile; it was why I went out searching for herbs and decided to look in on him. It did nothing for my curse, but I will not allow any of you to become harmed in this attempt.”

“Take a few hours,” Janet said, an edge to her voice. “But I want your answers by evening meal, because tomorrow morning, we attack Brenson’s lair and free Davik.”

The six women nodded and left the room, leaving Janet and me alone. Janet’s colder facade crumbled, and I could see the fear and worry on her face.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Lillian? We have no idea the effect that this could have on you.”

I nodded, “Yes, Janet, it is the only way to test your theory and not harm anyone. The worst is that I would need the tonic, the best, that I get to be joined with you and Davik. That outcome is the reason why I want to try, because it will bring us close in a way most people could only dream of.”

“Okay, but if it seems like this will be a hazard to your life, I am going to put a stop to it! I am not going to lose you, not when I’ve found you. I would never forgive myself. I am not sure Davik would forgive me, either; I see how much he cares for you.”

“He cares for both of us, dummy, equally, even if I have been around longer. Besides, he will not have to choose, and neither will we, which may make things complicated, but not impossible.”

Janet nodded and pulled me into a hug, flinching a few times as we embraced one another. Davik was getting tortured again, but perhaps when I went through the change, I could ease some of that burden for them both, as well. As I broke the hug, I looked deep into her eyes and knew this was the right thing to do. I pulled her into a kiss that she responded to with equal intensity, letting our mouths say what our words could not. As we broke the kiss, I saw a single tear begin to fall down her cheek.

“Janet, I want you to get a knife, one that is not coated in anything, so that we can get this started.”

“Why are you in such a rush?” Janet asked, pain and fear in her voice. “You told them by evening meal.”

“I know, I did that so we would already know what will be the outcome of our plan, without risking any of the others.”

Janet nodded and went to her pack, finding a small knife that she had stored there. It was not in any way ornate, but it was intricate in design, no doubt a gift she had been given.

“This was given to me by Gwen, as a gift after a year of deployment. I think it would be fitting to use this, as she would have wanted me to.”

She cut her palms and then handed me the knife, so that I could do the same. Once cut, we placed our palms against one another, our mirrored wounds fitting perfectly against one another.

“Do you swear,” Janet said in almost a whisper, “to help in all ways possible, to defeat Brenson and free Davik?”

“Yes, I swear.”

“Do you swear, to be open and honest with Davik and with me in all things, so that our relationship can thrive?”

I smiled and said, “I swear.”

“Do you swear to love us both, openly and honestly, with no reservations?”

“I swear.”

“Then, by the blood we have shared, we are bonded to this oath. May this oath, made by our blood, never be broken by either one of us.”

We let go of one another and she took bandages from her pack, wrapping my hands before wrapping her own. She then kissed both of my palms before turning my hands over and kissing the top of them. I did the same for her and we both smiled, though I could tell that she was still worried about all of this.

“Come Janet, let’s rest a bit in bed while we wait for the others to decide. I want to have someone in my arms whom I love, to help me feel assured that it will all be okay.”

She nodded and allowed me to guide her to the bed and, while I wanted nothing more than to relieve us of our clothing, that would wait until Davik returned to us, so that he could do the honors himself. We climbed onto the bed, facing one another and laid down, exactly where we had the times, we lay with him. His smell was still prevalent in the sheets and pillows and I found myself comforted by it. Soon I could feel the stress and fatigue of the day began to melt away, as the sweet embrace of sleep came.