Kiss the Darkness Ch. 05

"What are you waiting for?" Christian asked. "Get undressed."

Alexander nearly fainted as he watched Christian step into the pool. He was so beautiful. His body was a picture of absolute perfection. Though he had his back turned to Alexander, Alexander still managed a quick peek at the organ as Christian lowered himself into the water. It wasn't as though Alexander had never seen anyone naked before. He'd used to swim nude with the male children of the field workers. Once in a while the boys fathers would join them. But Alexander was young then, too young to even think about anything sexual. As a teenager and adult he became more modest, refusing even to allow his grandmother too see him nude, and the group swimming had stopped.

But standing there now, seeing Christian, the man he so desired, totally nude was something entirely different. He wanted to look, he wanted to stare at him, take him all in, but he couldn't. Christian found the whole situation amusing. He was used to being nude in front of servants and even his family. He also wasn't a virgin. Alexander suspected as much though Christian had actually never come right out and said it, but Alexander's grandmother had told him that noble men were often taken to whore houses by their fathers for their first sexual encounters. It was more or less a right of passage.

Alexander regretted not having a father but was thankful that he never had to be party to such a ritual as that. He doubted that he would even have been able to preform. How could he explain to his father that he had absolutely no desire for women? Somehow he thought his father wouldn't care really. Of course he had no way of knowing for sure, but from what his

grandmother had told him about his father, it seemed that he would have accepted Alexander no matter who he loved. It was comforting to think that at least. Alexander often wondered what his father was like, what kind of a father he'd have been, and if he would now be proud of his son. Alexander thought it unlikely that he himself would ever have children, but if he did, he would be a good father. He knew that for a fact.

Alexander looked around the room, then went to stand behind a large potted plant. He stripped off his clothing, laying them on the table next to the plant, and tied the covering around his waist. Christian watched his as he stepped back out into view. He was a little disappointed but at the same time found Alexander's modesty to be adorable. Still, even with the covering on, Christian had a good view of Alexander's body. The linen covered his private area and one side dipped down over his thigh but the other side, where it was tied, exposed most of his upper thigh and a bit of his ass. Christian couldn't help but let his eyes drift over that bit of exposed flesh. Alexander's ass was firm and round. Perfectly shaped, not too big but not flat either.

His long dark hair flowed down his slender back and as he stepped into the water the ends of it spread out over the surface like a fan. His pale skin shone in contrast against the blue-green waters. Rose petals drifted around him. One floated over and touched him, just above the navel. Christian reached out and picked up the petal, his fingers gently brushing over the skin of Alexander's belly. Alexander shivered at his touch and immediately felt himself grow hard. God how he wanted him then. Alexander could imagine himself sitting on Christians lap, his legs wrapped around his waist as Christian sunk himself deep inside of Alexander. If not for the fact that the monk was still in the room, Alexander seriously doubted that he could have controlled himself.

He leaned back against the wall of the pool, drawing his knees up and sunk down deeper into the water until it came up past his chest. Christian let the rose petal float away then moved closer to Alexander, sitting beside him close enough that their hips touched. Alexander looked at him and grinned some. "You're making my will weak."

"Not such a bad thing." Christian said as he leaned over and kissed the side of Alexander's neck. Alexander let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Christian looked at the monk then. "We're fine here." He told him. "I'll let you know if we need anything else."

The monk nodded, bowed to him, then left the room. Christian turned his attention back to Alexander. He kissed him again on the neck, then on the lips. Alexander opened his mouth and invited Christian in. He tasted so good. He put his arms around Alexander and pulled him close. Alexander could feel Christian's bare chest against him. He could feel the strength in his arms and the brush of his hair against his face. "I love you." Christian whispered as he planted kisses along Alexanders neck. "Mary me, Alexander."

"Chris..." Alexander moaned.

"Mary me." He said again. He put his hand on Alexander's knee and gently slid it down the inside of his thigh. Alexander quivered at his touch. "Mary me." He whispered a third time. Alexander tried to speak but he couldn't. He held his breath as he felt Christian's hand sliding further down his thigh. He felt his fingers caressing the inside of his thigh. He could feel them drifting over his skin. Christian's fingers brushed over the tuft of hair between his legs. He pushed the linen up, kissing Alexanders neck as he cupped his organ. Alexander moaned suddenly as Christian pushed his legs apart and started rubbing him.

"Oh God." Alexander murmured as he leaned his head back, his hands pressing hard against the floor of the pool.

"I can't wait much longer." Christian whispered into Alexander's ear. The heat of his breath sending waves of desire throughout Alexander's body. "Say you'll marry me."

"Yes..." Alexander moaned deeply as he nodded his head. "Yes, I will."

Christian smiled as he kissed him on the mouth and Alexander gave himself over to the feeling. "Good." Christian smirked as he watched the look on Alexander's face go from pent up sexual trepidation to complete and utter surrender. "That's just a taste of what you'll get on our wedding night." He whispered. "That, and so much more."

Alexander opened his eyes and looked at Christian. "I can't wait." He said, his breathing deep and heavy. "I want you to make love to me. I want to feel you inside me."

"In time." Christian told him as he pulled Alexander to him and held him tight.

"Um." Alexander smiled as he melted into Christian's embrace. "When?" He asked him softly.

"As soon as I speak to the Priest." Christian told him. "The sooner the better."

_________________________________________

It was dark by the time they'd left the bathing chamber. Night had come upon them quickly and though he was tired, Christian couldn't wait to speak to the priest. He'd found brother Neil and told him of his plans and the monk immediately took him to the high priest, the Gwendell Litauus. While Christian attended to that, Alexander was shown the monastery's great library. Once he walked through the doors into the massive room he was overwhelmed. It was more than he could imagined. Every wall was completely covered with shelves upon shelves of books.

There was perhaps a book on every subject in the world. Some were newer while others ancient. A glass case filled with scrolls sat at the front of the room near a desk where an old monk was busy copying pages. All around them were tables were other monks sat reading or writing. The monk who had brought Alexander to the library leaned over and whispered. "These are the Helards." He told him. "They are the scribes, the wise men. They learn all that they can and then teach their knowledge to others."

"It's all so wonderful." Alexander whispered.

The monk smiled. "Come with me." He told Alexander and Alexander nodded as he followed him. The monk led him to a small desk in the back of the room where an old Helard was seated, working on a scroll. Piles of books covered his desk, some of them dust covered. Many rolled up scrolls were also stacked on the desk and the old monks fingers were ink stained. He looked up as the two approached him.

"Greum." He scolded the younger monk. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy here?"

Greum laughed. "You're always busy, Asgall. Every time I see you you have your nose in a book or some ancient scroll. Surely you can take some time to help this young man. He has questions about the Draveil."

Asgall raised an eyebrow. "Does he now?" He said as he stroked his beard.

Greum looked to Alexander. "This is brother Asgall." He told him. "He's been here since before I was born. He is our chief historian. If anyone can answer your questions, it's Asgall. Asgall, this is Alexander MacCraith. He's engaged to Prince Christian."

"I see." Asgall looked Alexander over as he rose from his chair. "The Gods have smiled on you then my boy."

"Yes sir." Alexander said. "I truly believe that they have."

Asgall looked to Greum. "You may go. Our future Prince is in good hands with me."

Greum nodded, bowed to Alexander and left the two of them alone. Alexander thanked him then turned his attention to Asgall who was still looking him over as if studying him closely. Alexander tensed some.

"Alexander MacCraith is it?" The old monk asked.

"Yes sir." Alexander answered softly.

The monk continued to stroke his beard, lost in thought. After a short pause his smiled gently. "Well, what can I tell you about the Draveil?' He asked.

Alexander thought for a moment. He had so many questions that he wasn't sure where to begin. He supposed that the obvious place to start would be his experience in the mountains when he'd encountered the old temple. He explained to Asgall all that had happened. He explained to him the great pull he felt towards the place, as though something were leading him to it. He told him of the gateway, how'd he touched it and what had happened afterwards. Asgall listened intently as Alexander spoke and when he was done Asgall sighed, fidgeting with the talisman he wore around his neck.

"You want to know why you were drawn there." He said. "What the connection is between you and the Draveil."

Alexander nodded.

Asgall folded his hands behind his back. "To answer that, I have to tell you the story of how the Draveil come into being. But not here, follow me." Asgall turned and headed to the back of the library to a small room that was set apart from the rest of the library. Alexander followed him, curious of where he was taking him. When Alexander entered the smaller room he suddenly felt light headed, as though all the air had just been sucked out of the room. It took him a moment to recover and he noticed that Asgall was watching him closely.

"Sit." The old monk told him. Alexander nodded and sat at the only table in the room. All around them were shelves and stands filled with old books. One wall had a rack that held scrolls and loose parchment. The far wall contained a single tapestry, much like the ones in the main hall, only smaller and it depicted a man standing on a hill looking over a dark landscape. Alexander didn't recognize the man but he felt drawn to him somehow. He seemed sad, and so lost, as though he were searching for something through the darkness and mist that surrounded him.

"That's Tamus." Asgall told him, seeing Alexander studying the tapestry. "He created the Draveil race."

"Was he a God?" Alexander asked.

Asgall nodded. "He was, but the story doesn't start with him." He walked to one of the shelves and looked through the books for a moment then pulled down one that was very old and very large. He brought the book to the table and dropped it down in front of Alexander. Alexander coughed as a cloud of dust rose up from the book. "Sorry about that." Asgall apologized. "These books are rarely used anymore."

"It's okay." Alexander looked the book over. It was bound in leather and smelled musty. Asgall sat across from him and opened the book.

"This is the Shadow Tome, or the Demons Manuscript. It contains all knowledge of the creation of Draveil race and their Gods."

Alexander looked over the page that Asgall had turned to. The writing within the book was unknown to him but he recognized some of the characters as being ones that he saw etched into the stone temple. "It's ancient Draveilion." Asgall told him. "A language that's dead to most. A few of us here still read it though not many have use for it anymore. I spent months once translating many of these old texts for the King of Avimur. He was worried that the Draveil would try to overthrow him and take control of the Kingdom. He became obsessed with learning the secrets of the Draveil and how to destroy them."

Alexander looked up, remembering the corpses he'd seen at the temple. "He did it, didn't he?" Alexander whispered. "He killed them all."

"It was rumored." Asgall told him. "But no one but the King knows the truth. I suspect he'll take that secret to his grave."

Alexander shook his head. "But my grandmother told me that the Draveil wanted peace with the humans. Why would the King murder them all?"

"I can't say for sure, but your grandmother was half right. There was one who desired peace with the humans. He had a small gathering of others who wanted the same but the majority of the Draveil believed humans to be deceitful and treacherous. They urged their King not to ally with humans as they were untrustworthy."

"So what happened?" Alexander asked.

"That's the question isn't it?" The old monk sat back and stroked his beard as he often did when deep in thought. "Some say the Draveil went back to Vessard, sealing the gate forever. Other's believed that the King had them all slaughtered. Either way, it's been nearly twenty years since anyone has seen a Draveil. Some scarcely believe they even existed to begin with."

"But they did exist." Alexander said.

"Oh yes, they did. I know because I've seen them. It was the Demon King, Ar'gas Kerred, himself who taught me their language. I've spent the last eighteen years studying the scrolls and reading these old texts in order to keep that knowledge alive. I knew that one day, someone would come asking questions." He laughed some. "Though I never dreamed it would be a child."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "I'm hardly a child." He said.

Asgall smiled. "Perhaps not." He said simply.

Alexander looked back to the book, turning each page carefully. Though he couldn't understand the words he still was able to make out some of the stories by the drawings.

"Orus and Notena." Asgall pointed to the picture that Alexander was looking at. "Two of the four children of Danu and Dotarr. Orus and Notena married and Notena gave birth to Ar'oneth and Morrigan. Ar'oneth became the King of the demons, and created Vessard. He and Morrigan married and birthed two children of their own, Rylo and Xomodia. But, Ar'oneth had another child by a human woman named Thophine. Thophine was very beautiful and Ar'oneth became obsessed with her. When she spurned his advances though he murdered her lover and then disguised himself as the man and went to Thophine in the night. Their union produced a half demon child that was named Detraura.

When Thophine realized that she had been tricked she tried to drown the child in the river but Ar'oneth stopped her and took the child back to Vessard with him. When Detraura grew up she proved to be as beautiful as her mother and one night Ar'oneth raped her. She later gave birth to twins, Reeyer and Pila. Detraura was devastated and wanted desperately to escape her father but he would not allow her to leave. For years she was held captive by him until Rylo created the gate of Vessard and allowed her to escape. Rylo kept her hidden from their father and would often visit her. In time the two fell madly in love and from them was born the God Tamus.

Ar'oneth eventually discovered what Rylo had done and tried to kill him but Morrigan trapped him in a cell deep within the bowls of Vessard and over the next thousand years she ruled Vessard in his place, vowing to never allow him to escape. She became weary of the crown though and escaped to our world where she disguised herself as a mortal, and disappeared. It was widely rumored that she took a human mate and lived with him until his death. With her gone though the rule over Vessard fell to Rylo and so he reluctantly took his father's throne, leaving his wife and son behind.

Tamus being of both demon blood and human blood stayed with his mother and eventually took a human wife. Their three sons became the Draveil race and the ancestors of all Draveil who came after them." Asgall turned to the back of the book and showed Alexander what looked to be a genealogy chart. Alexander recognized a few of the names written from what Asgall had told him already. "Tamus's mortal wife was called Nuala. Their sons, Maoilir, Iomhar, and Proinsias, all married human women as well. Maoilir sired sons Cristiano and Iudas. Iomhar fathered Muirin a daughter and his brother Proinsias fathered a daughter called Etain.

Iudas married Etain from which Bronach and Eoran were born. Bronach married Maoilir and from them came Sive, and Teodoir. Teodoir married Etain and had a son named Einde. Einde fathered a daughter named Cred who married a mortal man named Liam Kerred. It was from these two that Ar'gas Kerred was born."

Alexander followed the line of births down to Kerred. He noted an empty line beneath the Demon Kings name and he looked to Asgall questioningly. "Why is this line left blank?" He asked him.

"That would have been where Ar'gas's child's name was written. Unfortunately his mortal wife was murdered before she could give birth thus severing the line. Since Ar'gas died without an heir I can only imagine the turmoil that Vessard is in right now."

Alexander sat back in his chair and stared off into the distance. His expression suddenly went from curiosity to something of distress. "Was...was it the King who ordered Kerred's pregnant wife killed?"

Asgall nodded. "King Guillame wanted to make certain that no Draveil remained in this realm alive. It was his belief that Ar'gas's heir would one day overthrow him and steal his throne."

A tear slipped down Alexander's face as he pushed the book away from him. "It's not possible." He whispered, shaking his head. "It can't be." He crossed his arms on the table, laid his head on his arms, and cried softly while Asgall watched him.

Asgall sighed as he touched the boys head. "You have his eyes." He told Alexander. "I saw it the moment I looked at you. You have his eyes, and your mother's beauty."

Alexander sniffled and wiped his eyes. "My mother?" He asked. "You knew my mother?"

Asgall nodded. "Lady Ismey. I met her once. The night I married them."

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Alexander had his arms wrapped around himself as he left the library. It suddenly felt so cold as he walked through the main hall, as if winter had come, chilling the land. All he could think of was what the monk had revealed to him. The truth that his grandmother had tried to tell him as she lay dying. He understood now what she was talking about but now that he knew the truth, he wasn't so sure that he was the better for it. How could he marry Christian now, knowing that Christian's own father was the one responsible for murdering his father, and nearly him and his mother as well.

Alexander stopped when he heard Christian calling his name. He looked up and saw him waving at him as he came near. No. Alexander thought. I can't face him. He shook his head as the tears came again. Christian seemed so happy, so excited, and Alexander's heart was breaking into a million pieces. "I'm sorry." He whispered through his tears. Christian paused when he saw the expression on Alexander's face. Alexander took a few hesitant steps backwards, away from Christian, then suddenly turned and rushed through the hall out the back to the gardens.