Chapter Seven    

An Unwelcome Visitor

            Galen had been waiting at the door.  He was wearing the same thing that Seki was.  Maybe we were going to a costume party?  He looked Seki over then me.

“Shit I knew I forgot something.” He motioned toward my feet and I nodded smiling.

“Yes I was wondering why Seki got shoes and I didn’t.” Galen grinned at me.

“Sorry.” I shook my head.

“I’m fine and everyone will just have to deal.”  It was his turn to shake his head.

“You always did do things your way.”  He offered me his arm and I took it.  We began walking down the hall.  I stretched my other hand out to Seki trying to get him to take my hand.  He probably stared at it before he grabbed it but I couldn’t tell because he was behind me.  He joined me at my other side. 

I smiled to myself but they both caught it.  “What?” Galen asked as if I had heard something he hadn’t.

“Nothing I just…feel special.”  The two men exchanged confused glances so I went on.  “I have my two favorite men escorting me and keeping me safe.  What girl wouldn’t enjoy this?” Galen had been the only one that treated me like a friend not a potential daughter.  He was also the only one who didn’t enter the ‘father wars’.  He had said that he would rather be my friend than my father.  I think the reason why is he knew that the Nameless hadn’t taken anything from him to put into me so he wasn’t my father.  We all knew it but we didn’t understand.  Doyle, Rhys, Frost, Nicca, even Sage and Kitto had been part of me but not Galen.

“Goddess, Ori, I’ve missed you.” I smiled up at Galen even though his words had taken me out of my thoughts.  “I just want to touch your face to make sure you’re really here.”  I stopped and took my hands away from both of them then touched one to Galen’s cheek.

“I’m here Galen and I’m not going to disappear again.  I won’t stay but you will know where I am.” He smiled then offered me his arm again.  We started walking again down the cold corridors of the mounds. 

“So, you’re not staying?”  I looked down at the carpet as we walked.

“No.  I have a life out there in New York.”  This time Galen stopped us.  If we kept stopping we’d never make it to the Chamber.

“I swear, you are too much like your mother.  You have a life here.” He looked almost angry at my decision so I avoided his angry face.

“Had.  I had a life here.  It died.” I continued to avoid his eyes.  “I will have a life here again someday but right now this cannot be my home.”

Galen was about to protest but someone else responded. 

“Then I hope that day will be soon.” Rhys turned the corner and smiled at me.  I smiled back at the white haired man.  Rhys had been the funniest of my fathers but when he got serious you know something was going down.  He was wearing identical clothes to Seki and Galen.  The idea of the costume party was lost.  How fun would a costume party be if everyone wore the same thing? 

Rhys was just about five inches taller than me.  His hair was not as long as mine but it could have been because it was wavy.  He had one startling blue eye that started dark blue near the pupil but lightened as it moved out.  The other eye was just scars.  I never knew the whole story but he had lost the eye in a fight of some sort.  His body was just as chiseled as Seki’s if not more.  He used to work out a lot when I was younger; almost anytime he wasn’t with mother he was in the gym. 

“Well?  Are you gonna stand there grinning at me or are you going to come give me a hug?” I grinned and let go of the two men that I was hanging on to and ran to Rhys’s open arms.  He hugged me tightly.  “It’s been a while little one.  How have you been?” I smiled into his chest.

“Not as good as I’m doing now.”  I sighed and pulled away.  He offered me an arm and we started walking.  We were about to turn the corner when Galen’s voice chimed in.

“Well I feel neglected.  Do you feel neglected?” The sarcasm was thick; I could have probably cut it with a knife but I turned back to the men.  Galen just grinned but Seki…Seki stared at me as if he could see my soul through my eyes.  I tried to ignore him by smiling at Galen. 

“Be quiet Galen or you’ll give me an excuse to tickle you.” He mocked a face of terror then went back to grinning.

“Yeah we’ll just see how long you last in my hands.” I gave my most evil face as I spoke but I could barely keep a blank face.  He winked at me.

“Will we now?”  Something in Galen’s eyes made me frown.  There was a hint of some emotion that made me uneasy.  I shook my head and turned my back to them.  They both were unnerving me.

“They’re waiting for us.” It was all I said. I started walking again and they all followed.  Rhys still had my arm and his grip tightened on it.  He was worried for me.  Hell I was worried for me. 

We finally entered the hall that the Chamber was down.  At the end of the hall were the big arched doors.  The doors were opened so that you could see into the Chamber and there were so many people in the room that I couldn’t see very much past them.  When we got halfway down the hall someone spotted us and the noise that had once been coming from the room had ended.  Hushed voices whispered rumors.  Everyone had something to say about me. 

Rhys and I entered the Chamber.  People were sitting or standing around tables around a well-lit white room.  My mother and her guards were at the other end of the Chamber up on a platform with stairs in front.  The people who were standing cleared a path for my guards and I as we made our way up to the platform.  Mother signaled for me to take the empty chair to her left.  Ceara was sitting on the stool to my left.  Seki and Rhys took opposite sides of the platform, Galen had disappeared to somewhere else.  Mother stood and took a few steps forward quieting the crowd.

“Orianna has come home.” She held a hand out to me.  I stood up and took her hand at her side.  The crowd applauded.  I wasn’t sure if it was necessary but they did it anyway.  I didn’t do anything.  I just stared.  “She is here because I have an announcement to make.  Orianna left before the usual time for courting and was never given the chance to.” She stopped and looked at me.  “I want her to court.  It is the Queen’s will that Orianna finds a husband and produces an heir.”  I knew she was going to do this.  I was angry but something kept me from reacting as badly as I wanted to.  “Any man that wishes to court my daughter must approach me…and of course Orianna.”

A man stood up near the front. When I recognized the man I rolled my eyes.  Beacan looked about twenty with long strawberry blonde hair and fiery red eyes stood there with a smile.  Beacan was beautiful but also a pain in the ass as well. 

“Your Majesties, I believe I would be an ideal mate for our lovely Princess.  I ask for the first chance.” I glanced over at Seki.  He was watching Beacan carefully.  I turned back to mother. 

“Do you approve?  And I get final choice?” I caught Seki shoot a surprised look at me but I brushed it off.  Even mother caught the look and returned the look.

“I…suppose.  And yes, you get final choice unless I want otherwise.”  I nodded and smiled as something wicked in my heart awoken.  I moved down the stairs and ended up right in front of Beacan. 

“Beacan…” I kept my voice low and breathy as I pressed my body against his.  “If I take you to my bed then I’ll expect certain…desires…to be fulfilled.” He swallowed audibly.  I could feel all of his heat concentrated on one area.  I raised my voice so that everyone could here me.  “First you would have to remove that stick that is shoved up your ass.  Second you’ll leave me alone.  Third…” My hand played at the edge of his pants.  “Keep dreaming.” I pushed him back into his chair then walked back to the platform.  I caught a smile from Seki that made my heart melt and only made me smile wider.  Ceara grabbed my hand and squeezed it.  Later she would laugh like there was no tomorrow.

I was sure mother found it funny as hell but as Queen she had to shake her head at me.  “Is there anyone else in this room that feels tonight is the best night for permission?  If so come forward.” There was a quiet moment but it ended when Seki moved toward the stairs and bowed.

“Seki?” My mother looked at him with something in her eyes that made me wonder.  He hesitated.

“As the Princess’ guard and old friend I wish permission to court her.” My breath caught in my throat as the words hit me.  Mother just smiled.

“Of course Seki.  Lovers are best when they are friends first.” I blinked.  Was this really happening?  “Orianna what do you say.”

I thought.  What would you say to something like that?  Yes?  I do?  “Seki I could not find the words to tell you how honored I would be, my old friend.” He looked up but stared at me in such a way it just made me suspicious all over again.

Finally mother ended the meeting and I had to mingle with the people.  Mingling is never fun.  I had to talk to people I didn’t know or couldn’t stand about things I didn’t understand or couldn’t care less about.  Of course the most irritating ones I just gracefully brushed over.  When it was all over, mother had withdrawn to her room.

I said my goodnights to a few passing people but when they were gone I was pissed.  I went storming down the halls to my mother’s room.  Rhys, Galen, and Seki followed me.  Rhys had even tried to stop me but I just growled.  The growl had surprised all of them but Galen tried to make them feel better with “People in New York probably taught her that.” If I hadn't been so pissed I would have smiled.

When I got to my mother’s door I threw it open, breaking the lock.  Since when did she lock her door?  Goddess, how things have changed.  She was sitting at her vanity talking to someone in the mirror.  Whoever it was it flashed away when I entered.

“Mother.” She kept a rather blank face considering everyone else was surprised as hell.  “This is what you brought me home for?” She nodded.

“Orianna there are still too many mysteries to your birth.  There are still some things we need to know.”

“So you auction me off as your whore?  Should I call you ‘Madame’ now?” She slammed her hand down on the table.

“Orianna we need you with child.” Her last words totally shocked me. 

“You…what?” I turned, looking at everyone.  They all had impassive faces now.  I suddenly felt betrayed.  All of this had been planned. 

“We want you to give us a child.” She said it twice but I still couldn’t believe she was actually asking me for this.  I frowned.

“No.” It sounded weak even to me.  I shook my head.  “Why?”

“We want to know if your accelerated growth will be passed down your line.” She got up from her stool and walked over to me.  “I know this is a great deal to ask but I would never do anything to harm you.  Please, Orianna, help us.” I closed my eyes and sighed.

“What do you need me to do?” She smiled at me then that beautiful motherly smile. 

“Simple, just get pregnant.  But…” She paused.  “I want you to take more than one man.” My jaw dropped.

“You can’t be serious.  Mother this is your history not mine.  Don’t make me go through what Andais made you go through.” Ok so I admit, having more than one man at a time is something I’ve done but it was different.  How?  I don’t know.

“Orianna this needs to be done quickly.  If you haven’t noticed Cel’s followers are beginning to act up.  We believe that it was one of his followers that attacked you in the bathroom of your apartment.  If you have a child that will secure our line as Queens.” I thought about what she said, it was true.  I had guessed that it was a Cel follower that attacked me that day but I had no idea they were acting up. 

“Fine mother bring on your men.” I smiled a sour smile then walked out of the room without another word.  I was walking rather slowly, thinking about what mother had said.  I hadn’t noticed that Seki had started walking in front of me.

“Seki why did you do that?” I asked it to his back because apparently that’s what he wanted me to talk to.

“Do what?”

“Ask to court me.  Why?” He gave a snide laugh then turned with a rather evil face.  I flinched as if he had hit me.  There was something horrible in that look.

“Don’t worry Ori it’s not because I’m in love with you.  I saw an opportunity and I took it.”

“Excuse me?” I couldn’t believe he was being so malicious.

“For advancement.  If I get you pregnant then someday I’ll be king.” My breath was caught again.  I couldn’t believe he was saying this.  Tears burned in my eyes.

“You’re going to use me to advance to the crown.” He nodded slowly this time his face blank.  He was using me, betraying me.  I never thought in a million years this day would come. 

A warm line trailed down the side of my face and I knew then that I was crying.  I had never cried in front of Seki except over bad dreams.  When I cried that’s when you really knew that I was hurt beyond belief. 

Seki’s eyes widened then returned back to the coldness.  “So the Princess does cry.” His hand wiped a tear off of my cheek before I could smack it away.  I grabbed his wrist and held it tightly.

“Only when she’s betrayed by people she thought she could trust.  Forget me Seki, we are no longer friends.”

“I wanted your bed not your friendship.” I slapped him when he finished it.  I had hoped to slap him before he finished but I was too stunned.  I couldn’t believe he was actually saying this.  It was completely out of character but things have changed.

“Don’t think for a minute that you’ll ever share my bed.” I turned my back on him and walked away as Doyle came from the way I was heading.

“Orianna.” Seki called out then grabbed my arm.  I turned back to him with anger and this time it was his turn to flinch.  His face had completely changed.  It was no longer cold but more saddened.  The tears in my eyes just kept flowing as I turned back to Doyle.

“Doyle reassign Seki, keep him away from me.” I started to walk again, pulling my arm away from Seki then turned to the both of them.  “And tell mother that he does not have my permission to court me.”

“Orianna.” Doyle said my name this time, which caused an unbelievable anger to take me over at the moment.

“Do not address me so informally.  I am your Princess and future Queen and I am sick of the disrespect I have been receiving.” I looked at Seki and finished the sentence, spitting the four words at him.  “You are below me.” I said each word in a slow and almost evil way.  Both of them jumped as if my words had hit them.  Seki looked absolutely stunned but Doyle managed to keep a blank face.

“Princess,” Doyle started again.  “I cannot reassign him and you cannot go back once you agree to court someone.”

“Are you ordering me?” Every word that came out of my mouth surprised me more and more.  I suddenly had the feeling that I wasn’t the one talking.

“No, merely stating a fact.” The anger kept growing and I could feel my aura darken. 

“You will do as I say.” I glared at Doyle as I spoke.  Doyle hesitated.

“Princess…” He started again but was immediately cut off.

“DO IT!” I screamed the words as they both went flying backward.  I was surprised as hell but my lips betrayed me.  An evil smile covered my surprise.  Rhys turned the corner and saw the two men on the floor and my evil look and took my by the shoulders.

“Orianna what are you doing?  You’re acting crazy.”  I laughed then but what he saw frightened him.  “Orianna you have fangs.” I mocked surprise.

“Oh?  Have I?” I ran my tongue over my teeth and found to sharp canines.  “I have.”  I smiled wide enough for him to see them again.  Doyle and Seki had gotten up and came toward me. 

“Ori?” Seki spoke carefully.  I shot at look to him that made him stop in his tracks.  “Her eyes are red… and she has--” he didn’t finish it but they all knew what he was going to say.

“Yes love we have already figured that out.” I smiled wickedly but inside I was screaming.  Someone had taken me over and I couldn’t make them stop.  Everything I did was against my will.  I was moving and talking but I wasn’t the one thinking this.

“Ori what’s going on?”

“You woke someone up in me.  Someone wicked, someone fun.” My smile was still enough that you could see my fangs.  I looked around the hall and spotted a mirror.  Rhys moved with me as I moved to it. 

“Little Ori it was just a test.  We made Seki say those things.”

“Little Ori is gone.  She is…taking a nap.” I looked at myself in the mirror.  I was playing with my hair then touching my dress.  “Beautiful girl, this…little Ori as you call her.”  I watched as my eyes bled to fiery red.  This couldn’t be happening. 

“It’s not Ori.  Someone or…thing has taken her over.” I smiled again full teeth.

“Let Ori go.” Seki’s voice was low and hostile.  I turned to him with mock fear.

“Seki don’t hurt me, please.  Besides you hurt me, you hurt your precious little Ori.”  I moved toward Seki and touched his face. He flinched as if I had burned him.  “Sweet Seki, how you love your Ori.  But…do you love Ori or are you in love with Ori.  Or do you just want this pretty little body.”  I moved up against him, pressing my hips to his.  He just smiled being unbelievably strong.  Inside I was impressed but outside my smile faded.  His response had surprised the darkness.  Good job Seki.

“All of the above.” He confessed causing the darkness to hesitate but then my smile widened.  It had an idea.

“Wonderful.” My voice sounded like a child that had just convinced her mother to let her go to an amusement park.  “Then would you defend her honor?” He frowned at that, confused.

“Of course.” My hands clapped together when he said it.

“Good, because a certain little fairy needs to be punished.  Someone in this court has violated our little Ori.  He has spoiled her pure little body.” Seki’s eyes widened.

“What?” There was immense anger in his voice that I had never heard before.  I screamed out but no one heard me.  I had no control over my body.

“Two weeks before our little Ori left the court she was raped.” I screamed again.  I didn’t want her to tell them.  I wanted to look at all of them but I kept my eyes on Seki.  Whatever she wanted to accomplish, it relied on Seki.

“Where?”

“My, my.  Are we playing twenty questions?”

“Where!?” Seki repeated it louder only causing my smile to widen.

“Outside the mounds.  I can show you the man.  He is here now, granted not in this hallway but he is here in the mounds.”  Seki looked down for a heartbeat then back up with raw anger.

“Take me to him.” I gave him a full-fledged smile, fangs and all.  I glanced one more time into the mirror and shook my head.

“Oh no, no.  This will not do.” I watched as my once white dress turned blood red before my eyes.  I had no idea I could do that.  The evil me smiled again, pleased.  I pushed out as much energy as I could and caused my body to hunch forward.  Rhys caught my arm.

“Are you alright?”

“No…make her stop.”  I had said the words that time, fighting the evil but it took over again.  “You are right Orianna he needs to be punished.  Follow me Gentlemen.”  We all started walking again in the direction of my mother’s room.  We stopped two doors away from it and entered the room.  Baird was sitting on a bed in the room.  He frowned at us as we all entered the room. 

“What is going on?”

“Oh pooh.” My voice came out again but the words were not mine.  Oh pooh?  Since when do I say that?  “He is not the one.”  I moved toward him and he flinched.  I touched his face then gripped his chin.

“Princess, you’ve changed.  Have you always had fangs and red eyes?” I smiled then tightened my grip on his chin.

“Not the one but he is working for him.  He is covering up his bosses tracks.”  My face got serious and angry causing him to flinch again.  “That is just as bad.” I let go and walked back to Seki.  “This one is not the one…but he does work for him.  If you want to find the one that spoiled the Princess, then he is your best way.”

“Who are you covering for Baird?  Who raped the Princess?” It was Rhys who asked the question but Baird had recovered his composure and put back on his amused face.

“The Princess was raped?  If I had know she was so weak, then I might have taken advantage of her too.” Seki took in a sharp breath and stepped forward, but Rhys stopped him.

“Answer me.” Rhys voice was low.

“You would have ,also, wouldn’t you have, Seki.  I mean look at her.  Her silky smooth skin.  You can see it too can’t you?  You’ve imagined taking our little Princess.  Your bodies rubbing together.” Seki growled lowly as the evil me yawned.

“This is boring.  I’ll come back when something good happens.”  I flinched a bit and felt myself return to normal.  Whatever had taken over was gone.  My dress went white again and the fangs were gone.  Hopefully my eyes had changed too.

“Simply tempting isn’t she?” Baird continued as if he hadn’t heard or seen me.  “How about it Seki, come with us and the Princess could be yours.  We were just going to kill her but if you come with us she’ll live and you can do whatever you want with her or to…her.  We’ll just ask that you share every now and then.” I had had enough of his psychobabble.

“You have a lot of nerve saying all of this in front of the Queen’s guard.” He just smiled at me.

“The Queen’s guard is nothing.  We are more powerful than them.  You my tempting little Ori could be something.  You have an evil side and we’ve just seen it.  It probably came from the Nameless.” I put up a hand to stop him.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Tell me Seki.  How often have you watched our little Princess sleep and fantasized about touching her?  Tell the truth Seki because you know I can read minds.  I know how you feel about her, how you wish you could do things to her.”  Seki had heard enough.  He plunged toward Baird and knocked him off of the bed.  Hell I had heard enough and was ready to hit him myself but I didn’t.  I started to run to Seki but Rhys stopped me.

“Rhys we have to stop this.  Seki could...” I looked back to the men who were fighting only to see Baird with his hands on either side of Seki’s head.

“You forget Seki.  I also have powers over dreams.  I could put you in a dream world that would terrify you over and over.” Seki grabbed the sides of his head but stayed on the ground.  Baird stood up smiling.  “I could put you in a world where you would chase your Princess forever and every time you ever thought you were close she would run farther away.” Seki fell to the ground.  I wasn’t sure if he was unconscious or dead but I ran to him.

“Seki?” I touched his face trying to wake him up.

“Don’t bother Princess.  He’ll never come out.  But if it’s any consolation he’s dreaming of you.” I glared up at him.

“Undo this.” I spoke through my teeth, fighting the urge to attack him.

“I cannot.  The only one who can save him is…well, him.  That is if he’s strong enough.  He will live on forever in his nightmare...he is immortal isn’t he?  In a few years his muscles will atrophy so that even if he did wake up he would be a vegetable.  What kind do you think he’ll be?  A radish maybe?” He smiled down at me, which only pissed me off even more.

A voice entered my head.  It was smooth and soothing as it spoke to me.  “Let me take care of it Orianna.  I will give him the justice he deserves.”  I continued to glare at him as I let the dark power take me over.  I didn’t want to think about it I just wanted him dead. 

I was watching myself change again.  My dress turned blood red again and my lips curled exposing fangs.  I moved Seki and stood, moving toward Baird.  I placed hands on either side of his face.

“You are wicked.  If Orianna didn’t want you dead I’d take you as a toy.  But what the Goddess wants, the Goddess gets.” My grip tightened on his head and he began to shake.  I let go of him as he fell to the ground and watched.  Even if I hadn’t been controled by someone else I would have smiled the evil smile I wore now.  He deserved to die and he deserved to do it painfully.  Even if this dark power hadn’t taken over I would have killed him.

Chapter Eight: Revelations

Chapter Six: The Calm Before a Storm

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Copyrights:  This is a fan fiction.  All original characters from Laurell K. Hamilton's Fae series are hers and hers alone (too many to count sorry) this includes the Anita Blake series.  All characters that weren't in her original series are MINE and I will kick any one's ass that steals them.