Dominion Ch. 01

Authors Note: As a general warning, this is a very dark tale. There are non-consent scenes coming up in the story, and lots of gore and death. If you have a weak heart or stomach, I suggest you move on to brighter works.

Prologue

"Save her! You have to save her!"

"But you'll die!"

"I don't care!"

Nora screamed in agonizing pain, gripping the mattress as she tried to push the foreign object from her body. A tall figure stood over her, pouring electricity through her abdomen as she screamed again. White light flooded the room, and all she could hear was the quiet buzzing of voices too far away for her to understand beneath the ringing sound that filled her ears. She looked around with bleary eyes, but all she could make out were the dark figures standing around her, casting eerie shadows as they towered over her writhing body.

Suddenly, a small creature was placed into her arms, and she sighed in relief. it was over. She could finally sleep.

"She's beautiful,"

"Stay with me Nora! You better not die on me, dammit!"

Blue hair and blue eyes adorned the tiny baby she held. She smiled down at the child, and watched in blissful agony as the room erupted in blue flames.

"I love you,"

Nora woke up screaming, sweat dripping from her body, and rivers of tears running from her pale blue eyes. Every night she would wake this way, and every time she opened her eyes in the dark confines of her room, the dream would recede to the edge of her consciousness, flickers of memories sitting on the tip of her tongue as she struggled to remember what terrorized her in the first place.

Nothing would come to her, however, and it only drove her further into panic and anger. She shot up and looked around her room, attempting in her half conscious stupor to discern where she was. This was not the nightmarish room of her dreams, and she slowly took in the sight of her own bedchambers as the thought of sleep fled her muddled mind. Black marble walls surrounded her, the thick, dark bricks staggered as they were stacked upon each other, reaching the arched ceiling that curved into the rounded tower marking the west corner of the castle. The torches sat extinguished in their iron holds, and the earthy chill of the room helped sober her as she took a deep breath of the crisp night air. She absently stroked the black silk linens that were draped over her body as she picked her brain for anything she might recall from her recent night terror.

It was pointless anyway, and she wished her brother had been there to distract her from the emotions warring inside of her. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, wondering just where he might have been this time of night. He was rarely far, and her screaming usually brought him directly to her room.

Deciding she was far too tired to mull it over, she slid back beneath the sheets and did her best to return to sleep.

Chapter 1

The door to the dungeon swung open as a set of guards carried a young Kyaga man through the entrance. He looked to be of royalty, and he held an unshakable dignity about him even as he was handled with scorn and disgust. His white hair fell in thin wisps about his pale face, and his piercing blue eyes never faltered in their glare at anyone who dared to look his way. He was dragged to the far back and tossed inside of the last cell on the right, where he was kept in company with a group of other prisoners. The door slammed and locked behind him, and he adjusted the power suppressing bracelet clasped over his wrist while he surveyed the other people he was locked up with. His chin jutted out and he held his head high as he stared each of them in the eye.

He may be innocent of the crime he had been accused of, but he was no push over. He was a hardened warrior, and killing was in his nature. He would not hesitate to demonstrate that to anyone who intended on trying their luck with him.

"Oy, a new one," One of the criminals cackled as he shrugged off of the wall, "Whats yer name, mister fancy?"

"Trysten," He replied with a cold stare in the direction of the man who had addressed him, "Do you intend to throw a welcoming party for me? Because I'm most definitely interested in letting off some steam,"

The man shrunk back like he had been bitten, and quickly tried to recover. The sneer he shot in the new prisoners direction was not very believable, and Trysten could practically taste the fear rippling from the others at the mention of his name. His mouth ticked up in a half smile as he strode to the bench. All but one woman scrambled to move away, and he regarded her with a wry smile. A Tourik, and a self confidant one at that. She sent him a sideways glance before readjusting herself and leaning farther back against the wall.

"You don't intimidate me, Prince,"

"You haven't given me a valid reason to try,"

Kara's mouth curved up at the corners, and she hooted in delight. She knew his name, just like anyone else in Aeradil. She wondered wryly how the only heir to the Dominions throne found himself inside of his fathers very dungeon. Considering who he was, it must have been grave. Contrary to her words and outward demeanor, she would be lying if she denied his very presence sent the hairs on the back of her neck to attention. She couldn't recall the last time a Tourik got this close to him and lived to tell the tale. Very few survived an encounter with this one, and it was no wonder everyone in the dungeon wanted to keep their distance.

That being said, she knew he wasn't vicious by nature. In fact he was very... apathetic about it. The Dominion were violent by default, but he was different from the rest. Killing was a chore to him, and something only to be acted out if necessary. His lack of interest in it almost made the brutality of the act even more fearsome. Slicing a throat was akin to cutting butter at a kitchen table. She wondered if he even remembered the people he killed, if he ever regretted the act. She highly doubted he gave any of it a second thought. ]He carried out every order without flinching, and it was a wonder that he even had a heart.

She was distracted by the sound of begging and crying as the guards dragged another prisoner to their cell. The small Daegra female was pleading with them, her gray eyes wide and fearful as she futily resisted the men who were leading her to their cell. Kara grimaced in irritation, knowing full well that the pudgy fuck in charge of keeping the keys was to blame for this. He got some sick satisfaction out of hearing her misery, and he did what he could to keep her in the same cell with the bastard Naugu who enjoyed tormenting her.

The Overlords step son rearranged the prisoners earlier that day, but it was only a matter of time before the issue would have been remedied again. As soon as the door was slammed shut, she crowded against it and watched the man like a hawk.. And wouldn't you know it, a sick smile grew on his face as he shrugged away from the wall he was leaning against. He was angry due to his earlier encounter with Trysten, and wanted to take it out on his favorite toy. Kara looked to the side as Trysten tensed beside her, and she was intrigued by the frown marring his features. From the look of it, he was not enjoying the sudden turn of events. He crossed his arms and sat back, but she could tell he was coiling for an attack.

Interesting. Maybe there was a heart somewhere in there after all.

"Ello miss lady. Thought ye' was gonna get away from me, huh?" He laughed darkly as he sauntered over to her side of the cell. "I think the guards like hearing ye' beg fer mercy."

"Please don't-"

"If you want to keep your life, I suggest you leave the woman alone," Trysten's voice came out as a calm murmur, almost seductive in its tone as he leaned forward, "You had better keep your hands to yourself,"

"Oh? And what're ye' gonna do about it, mister high n' mighty? If it ain't me, it sure as hell's gonna be someone else dying to shove 'is chubby shaft up 'er tight little cunt,"

"Tell me," He continued with that same feather light tone. He stood slowly from his place on the bench and approached the man like a tiger stalking its prey, "Have you ever killed a man?"

"What-"

"Some people say its exciting. Taking the life of another gives them a rush that can be rather addicting," He drew closer, his voice dangerously inviting, "Others can't stand the concept. They get sick just thinking about it,"

The daegra girl used the distraction as a chance to begin edging herself away from the man who was now fixed on Trysten. Her eyes flittered between them as she waited for the perfect chance to bolt. Her body was tensed ready to spring as she watched the scene play out before her. Her eyes fixed on Trysten as he spoke again.

"Me? I don't honestly see the difference. Death is necessary, and it happens every day," He continued, slowly making his way between the man and his target, "Whether it is by my hand or someone else's, it comes for everyone. Why romanticize it? Why fear it? If it is meant to come, then it will,"

"Look, Prince, I don't want no problems," The Naugu stammered as he backed up, his yellow irises glowing in a mixture of fear and confusion, "I wont touch the girl no more,"

"You're right about that," Trysten's eyes grew cold, and he took a step closer, "Do you know why people fear me so much?"

"I... I don't know, sir,"

"Ah, and now you address me with respect," His laugh was cold and harsh as he took another step into the other mans personal space, "I can smell your fear, scum. I can taste it on my tongue. That might excite others, but you see, the reason people fear me is because I don't care, one way or another. You could die laughing in my face. You could beg, or curse, or try to run... but in the end, you're dead either way,"

Before the bastard could speak, Trysten threw the curve of his palm straight into his jugular, and with a fluid motion, spun low to kick his feet out from underneath him. In a blinding flash he was on top of the man, and had his throat gripped tightly between his fingers. Trysten pressed harder on his esophagus and watched in contempt as the vile prisoner beneath him choked on his last breath. Even after he was sure the bastard was dead, he stood and stomped harshly on his throat for good measure. Looking around, he smiled sweetly at anyone who dared to make eye contact with him.

Much better. You people would do well not to forget who, and what, I am.

"Guards," Trysten yelled as he stepped over the body, "There is room in this cell for another prisoner,"

"What are you on about-" There guard paused, unsure of how to react to the mangled corpse, "The hell is going here?"

"He slipped," One of Trysten's cellmates said with mock seriousness, and a few of the others chuckled at the sarcastic reply. "Should've been more careful, the clumsy lad. These prison floors're mighty slippery,"

The guard glared at him for a moment, but his gray-blue eyes were all for Trysten, and as the guard followed suit, they locked gazes and Trysten shrugged nonchalantly at him before turning to the woman who was now curled up in the corner. She stared at him with wide gray eyes as he approached her and she began to scurry even closer against the wall in an attempt to escape him. Crouching down to eye level with her, he assessed her panicked mannerisms with a frown.

"It's alright, sweetling. I mean you no harm," He cooed softly as he reached out and brushed her black hair away from her face, "What is your name, little one?"

"A... Aryn," She stammered, and closed her eyes as he moved to sit next to her, flinching away when he reached out and pulled her onto his lap, "Please... please, I-"

"Shh, you're safe now," He murmured comfortingly, "Sleep while you can, Aryn. I may not be here in the morning,"

She stiffened for a moment, but when she was sure he wouldn't hurt her, she rested her head against his shoulder and brought her knees up to her chest in a fetal position. He ran his fingers through her hair while she relaxed into his arms, and took the the moment to look around at his other cell mates. The dead man had been dragged out, and a new man brought in. He looked nervously at the others before sliding to the ground where Aryn previously stood against the door. He looked a little young, his trembling fingers reaching for his blond hair as his gaze darted around the cell without making eye contact with anyone. Trysten wondered why a Gaidec was so far from his homeland, but decided against questioning the boy.

The woman lounging on the bench looked completely unimpressed with everyone around her, and she sat with her eyes closed, as if she had nothing to worry about. By the look of her dark brown hair and olive complexion, Trysten assumed she was a Tourik prisoner of war. She must have been a fighter of some sort before being put in here, her fearless demeanor being somewhat similar to his sister Nora.

The man who had answered the guard was standing in the opposite corner with his arms crossed, and he was watching Trysten with a wry grin on his face. He appeared to be a cross breed. His fair skin and piercing gray blue eyes were proof of his Kyaga heritage, but the jet black hair and slightly pointed ears revealed a bit of Daegra in his blood. He seemed far too curious in the way he watched Trysten, and it was starting to irritate the Prince.

"Do you have a problem?" He asked the prisoner, petting Aryn's hair again when his voice made her jump. "I'd hate to have to move the girl. I don't think you would like what would happen next,"

"Nah, I don't have beef with ye', lad," He returned with an even wider grin, "The last person I'd wanna fuck with is ye', Prince. Just wonderin' why yer in here,"

"I was accused of murder," He replied, "I will most likely be banished by morning,"

"So did ye' do it?" He asked as he moved his weight to the other foot, "Did ye' kill the guy?"

"No," Trysten observed the mans smug reaction with an apathetic stare, "But it doesn't really matter in the end, does it? They believe I did, so I might as well have. Its not as if I'm incapable of murder,"

"Ah, looks like ye' catch on quick," The man replied as he crouched down onto the balls of his feet, "Tis' the story of half the poor bastards in here,"

"Is that so?" Trysten considered thoughtfully. He never really noticed how corrupted the justice system was. It hadn't affected him personally before, so it didn't truly concern him in the past, "I never realized just how blind I was to my peoples suffering until I, too, became a victim of it,"

"Well if it makes ye' feel any better, ye' weren't the first, lad," The man chuckled, "And ye' sure as hell won't be the last,"

"That only makes me feel worse," He admitted sadly, "What is your name?"

"I go by Joel these days," He said, finally sitting down with his legs stretched out, "And by all means, if ye' don't like the way things are, then change em,"

"I would if I had the opportunity," Trysten lamented, "But I'll be far gone from here this time tomorrow,"

"Ye' gonna let that stop ye' boy?" Joel chuckled as he ran his fingers through his hair, "The Kyaga've always been this way. Fussin and bickerin over the throne like children. Come back with an army and the people will bow to ye' just as soon as they would yer pops,"

"Well as you can see, someone seems to have beaten me to that idea,"

"All the better! Let the bastards kill each other and then swoop in and take whats rightfully yers." He countered, "If ye' want it bad enough, ye'll fight fer it,"

"I'll keep that in mind,"

The sharp response seemed to silence the Daegra for a moment, and he regarded Trysten in a new light.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say ye' weren't Kyaga at all. There ain't a lick of fire in ye'," He mused, and then rubbed his chin in contemplation, "Well, I wouldn't say that. But yer colder than the rest, and more calculated. Not afraid to stand up and do whats right. The sweet lass cuddled on yer lap is proof of that."

"Are you questioning my determination?"

"I'm sayin ye' got a big heart, the way ye' protected a gal ye' don't even know. Yet ye' dropped that man only minutes ago and ye' aren't even fazed by it. A compassionate killer is a hard line to walk, lad. But ye' do it well," He continued after a moments pause, "ye' got a good head on yer shoulders. Don't let it go to waste. Most of these scrum're only out fer themselves. ye' could be the change we need in this cesspool,"

"Compassionate," Trysten chuckled, running his fingers through Aryn's hair as he considered Joel's words, "That is not a term I often hear used to describe me,"

"It's true, though," Joel's eyes bored into Trysten with an apt scrutiny, "I can see it. You hide it well, but its there. No ones given two shits about that girl since she's been in here, but you defended her without a second thought,"

"I defend the weak and innocent," He explained as he drew a knuckle over Aryn's cheek. She scrunched up her nose and burrowed deeper into Trysten's shirt, causing him to smile, "What ever she is in here for, I highly doubt she deserved what that man was doing to her,"

They were interrupted by the bustling of guards near the entrance of the dungeon, and soon three men moved to stand before Trysten's cell.

"Trysten Gallindo. It's time,"

He nodded solemnly and shifted his weight as he tried to wake the girl he was holding in his lap. She was out cold and he hated to leave her alone that way. The guards seemed impatient and he was running out of time, so he attempted to wake her once more before Joel stood and walked over to his side of the cell.

"I'll take care of her," Joel explained as he lifted the slumbering woman into his arms, "Just don't ferget what I told ye',"

"I won't," And he meant it. Joel was right. He couldn't give up. He had to find away to fix this mess, and he wanted to repay the man for his wise words. In order to do that he would have to find his way back here some how. "I won't forget you,"

Joel smiled at him as he slid down into the position that Trysten was in before, and watched as the guards led him from the dungeon. He wasn't sure how successful the lad might be, but he was the only chance the Dominion had at change. He wanted to believe Trysten had the fortitude to break the cycle and fix the corruption so evident in the Dominion's government system. Someone must have been severely threatened by Trysten's presence, because it had been a long time since a person of royalty was banished from the capital. To Joel, that only proved his point even more. Trysten was a force to be reckoned with. Joel could only hope Trysten would find his footing before it was too late.

Aryn shifted and yawned, opening her eyes and realizing with a bit if panic that she had been moved. She shot awake and looked straight into Joel's eyes with an expression of pure terror, and quickly tried to scramble off of his lap.

"Whoa there lass, I'm on yer side," He told her as he restrained her and dragged her back against his chest, "Just calm down now. There's no need to panic,"

"Please," She whimpered, "Please let me go,"

"If ye' insist," He chuckled, "But there's two other men in this cell with us, and another on the way, so unless ye' wanna end up as someone's little toy again, I suggest ye' stay right here,"

"Oh for the love of the gods!" The Kara spat, "All you limp dicks do is fawn over that sweet little cunt like she's a god damned piece of candy,"

"At least she's not a sour pussed bitch like ye', Kara" Joel shot back with a wry grin on his face, "Few men in this world would have the balls to come onto ye',"