Call Of The Dark

Maeve's mouth fell to the floor. "You can't be speaking the truth. Isn't your throat burning with that lie. Just because that human gives up herself to you and sucks you, you are seduced by her? She is playing games with you. Can't you understand that much?" She shouted, irritated as hell. "She is adept in the art of seduction. She will make you believe that she needs you."

He narrowed his eyes on her and with a dangerous growl vibrating in his chest, he said, "She doesn't make me believe it, Maeve. She needs me like I am the air she breathes."

A growl emanated from Maeve's chest as she clenched her fists in fury. "If you want, then I will spread my legs for you and make you feel the same lust as you feel around her! I can work it up with a little bit of practice with you."

"Stop deceiving me, Maeve!" he growled back as he took a step towards her. "You will have to practice with me? Huh? How insulting! Because Emma doesn't have to practice. Attraction towards me is natural for her. You never ever had the intention of having sex with me Maeve. So I am now beginning to wonder if you are actually a virgin as you claim or you have a lover."

She gulped as blood drained from her face. When he took a step closer, she took a step back.

"You were always lying to me," he said, his expression murderous.

She knew that he had seen through her lie. "You can think all you want, Lazarus. That mortal has blinded you. But get this straight—I am a goddess and my want is not sexual. I want people to pray to me. I want kingdoms beneath my feet. Sex? Well, why do kings have a harem? I never stopped you from having one. I never stopped you from tasting Emma because she was a fine candidate for being a concubine. But then she is special. She should be my vessel. Why don't you recruit women like Emma—the villagers in your personal harem? Maybe, then you won't miss her so much."

He scoffed. "You think I can't maintain a harem? I can have a new woman in my bed every day and night. But what is the point of having a wife, a queen who would rule Wilyra with me?"

Maeve hissed and then she lunged at him to slap him. He caught her hand and shoved it down so harshly that she shrieked in pain. "Your bones are fragile Maeve. I have decapitated people for less than that."

She narrowed her eyes on him as she caught her sprained wrist. "I know that you are speaking like this because all this—" she waved a hand in a circle at him, "—is for her!"

Lazarus couldn't say a word. That was the truth.

"You are falling in love with Emma, but Lazarus, you forget," she sneered. "Emma will be taken to the temple for the ritual. I will cast her soul out and enter her body."

"You don't have the power to threaten me, Maeve," he said coldly.

"In fact I do," she snarled, angered as hell. "If I don't get Emma's body, I am going to get out of this body and enter the body of another girl. I will destroy that body and then enter another. And another. You won't be able to do a thing. I will create havoc on your village. No one will be safe. So better think about it properly. Without me, you have no chance of getting the throne of Wilyra and without me seeds of sedition would grow."

Lazarus glared at her, not able to believe that she would go so far. "It seems you are lusting for the crown more than I. Now that I don't think I need you, you can leave for Vilinski."

Maeve tilted her head and then suddenly started laughing. She laughed as she carried herself to the bed. "Go to Vilinski?" she said in an amused voice. "I will stay here and never leave. Yes, I want to rule Wilyra but only because you showed me the dreams of ruling it beside you!"

Lazarus's breath became ragged as he realized that she was a monster that he had grown in his backyard. He narrowed his eyes. "Then I have a proposition. You can take anyone else as your vessel and rule with me while I keep Emma." He needed her so badly now. More than ever. He wanted to trace away her just to feel better, just to feel that she was safe.

"That is not an option, Lord Lazarus. I will only take Emma's body and that too after you have marked her."

He raised an eyebrow. "You have become bolder Maeve. What if I kill you now?" He walked to the mantle above fire and caught its edge, his body shaking with fury.

"Do that and I will possess the body of any of your maids or sisters. Without the power of a full moon, their body would wither away in a few days because of my magic. Trust me—" she hissed, "—I won't stop there!"

He smashed the marble mantle with a furious punch. "Maeve!" he yelled at her.

"Lazarus, you will have to get rid of Emma's soul if you don't want to see my massacre, my revenge. I am a goddess and you can't even imagine what I am going to do." Her lips curled up when she saw how helpless he was. She chuckled, jutting her chin out. "Don't worry Lord Lazarus. If you will do exactly as things were supposed to take place, you will have a goddess as a queen."

He glared at her, but did speak a word.

"So?" she said. "How about you go and find dear little Emma and get her back while I get ready for the night. Tomorrow is another day and I need more makeup. My body is getting wrinkly."