Rage

Ashlard was pacing, dragging the chain behind him when he noticed an approaching light, appearing from the darkness was Blain followed closely by Runë, Blain was scowling, and holding a small bundle, Runë looked nervous. Ashlard wasn't sure what to make of it as Blain unlocked the door, let Runë into the cell, and quickly left the two of them alone. Ashlard could smell her already, his heart throbbed madly, but he wouldn't attack her, so why had Blain left them alone? Ashlard was completely stunned as Runë began to disrobe in front of him, he quickly turned around, protecting her modesty.

He felt hands around his waist, running up his sides, they tugged his tunic over his head, and with a start, she began pulling down his trousers. Ashlard stood there awkwardly, facing the wall, trying his best to stay composed when he felt Runë take his hand and pull him around. Runë was facing away from him, he could see her silhouette in the light, she was beautiful. With a gentle tug, she pulled Ashlard closer, so they were almost touching, reaching up, she swept her hair aside, exposing the unmolested side of her neck. Leaning towards her skin.

"Are you sure?"

There was a pause, before nodding and Runë reached up, placing a hand on his cheek and pressing his head gently towards her neck. Ashlard needed no further instruction, extending his fangs, he as gently as possible, sunk them deeply into her soft flesh, drinking deeply.

FLASH

Humming again, the same tune as last time, but now there's distant signing accompanying. A beautiful melody, drifting into silence.

FLASH

Ashlard removed his teeth from Runë's neck, he realised they had dropped to their knees, and he was embracing her tightly, she was gently stroking his hands. Runë passed Ashlard a fresh Tunic from the bundle that Blain was carrying, before using water from the bucket to clean her neck and dressing herself. Ashlard realised, their nakedness was to prevent ruining their clothing. Runë even rubbed a white powder over the wounds to cover their existence. Before finally turning to face Ashlard, she looked him in the eye for a moment, before turning and banging on the cell door. Blain arrived in moments, unlocking the door, he quickly checked Runë for injuries, before nodding towards Ashlard and leading Runë away.

"I hear you," said Ashlard.

Runë stopped in her tracks for a moment, before starting to cry, casting a quick smile at Ashlard, and melting into the darkness once again. Ashlard began losing track of time, he had been confined to his cell for so long he no longer knew if it were weeks or months. Runë kept his rage sated every few days without fail, she didn't complain and always sang to him in her mind, he found himself waiting for her return with an eagerness he couldn't comprehend. They had short conversations now, while she was unable to utter a sound, Ashlard could feel her emotions as he fed, it seemed she was teaching herself to focus her thoughts for this purpose. Ashlard wasn't sure if it were to communicate with him, or if it were to prevent him glimpsing into her memories. But he didn't care, she was safe and for whatever reason, didn't want him dead.

Blain seldom spoke to him, only brief nods before unlocking and re-locking the cell door, and disappearing completely when it was time to feed. Ashlard missed talking with him, but he wasn't sure how to get through to him, and how could he? Locked in a cell, he hardly had anything to talk about.

It came as a shock to him one day, that Runë didn't deliver his meal one afternoon, Blain looked uneasy as he brought in the food, and without a word, turned to leave.

"Wait," said Ashlard.

Blain paused... shuffling his feet, "you'll see her tomorrow," he said quickly, before marching away into the darkness.

What was that? Ashlard thought to himself, was something going on? Blain seemed cautious, scared maybe? He spent the next few hours trying to keep his mind from wondering, he lay on the pile of straw, was this concern? Why had Runë not come, was Blain being truthful, would she come tomorrow? He lost the trail of thought as he drifted off to sleep.

Sounds of footsteps roused Ashlard from his sleep. A familiar scent wafted through the corridor, he quickly got up, approaching the bars he breathed deeply, tasting the air itself, yes, Runë indeed was coming this time, she was with Blain as usual. He could see the light now, slowly approaching, and the familiar sound of their footsteps became clearer. Coming into view, Ashlard noticed that Runë did not carry the tray, but Blain himself did. Blain handed the tray to Runë and opened the cell as usual, Runë entering alone, and Blain quickly leaving view.

Ashlard turned his gaze towards Runë, she was beautiful, her hair tied up with a blue ribbon, she was wearing a loose nightdress, the colour of a fresh peach. As she bent to place the tray on the floor, Ashlard caught a glimpse of pain flash across her face, he didn't know what that meant. Quickly, she straightened herself out, flashing a beautiful smile his way, Ashlard turned away as she disrobed, quickly removing his tunic, she took his shoulder and turned him around to face her, standing before him in all her womanly glory, Ashlard found himself awestruck by her sheer beauty.

Runë took his head in her hands, pulling him into a soft kiss and directed him to feed at his leisure. Gently biting, she was so sweet, savouring the very texture of her skin, he sunk into her mind, where she hummed and sung such beautiful songs for him. He hated that he took her voice, but she gave it willingly as a gift to him in these moments. Ashlard pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her, but as he brushed his hand across her back, Runë flinched, not just in person, but her mind itself cringed at the contact.

Ashlard immediately pulled away, looking for meaning in the action, only to find her gently trying to pull him back in to feed, Ashlard, leaned forward, gently kissing her on the cheek, leaving a smear of gore, and gently coaxed Runë into turning around, there were 3 deep lashes across her back, running from the top of her right shoulder to just below her left hip, they were relatively fresh. Shaking with anger, Ashlard took Runë by the hand, he placed a single finger in his mouth and bit gently, initiating the contact again.

Rushing wind, the crack of a whip, white hot searing pain.

"He had you whipped?" asked Ashlard.

Fear, sorrow, pain, regret and... something else...

Ashlard pulled himself from her mind. Immediately, Runë tried hushing him, hugging him frantically while sobbing silently, but Ashlard couldn't stop, not this time. His rage was building, kissing Runë gently, he lifted her, placing her on the straw pile that made his bed, before grasping the chain around his neck. Surging with energy, Ashlard without too much effort, pulled the bracket clean out of the stone floor, with a loud crunch of stone. Blain reappeared in front of him, his eyes wide with fear. Ashlard simply grabbed two bars, forcing them apart, the metal shrieked as it tore like paper. He shot a warning look at Blain.

"Care for her," he said, and stalked down the corridor cloaking himself in flames. Ashlard realised, that had the tunnels been made of something other than stone, he'd have burnt down the city by now. The tunnel for that matter, seemed to be specifically designed to only lead to one cell, his...

Emerging into light he was stunned to see he was in a large room, ceilings taller than even the largest oak from the golden forest, he had entered into the royal viewing chamber from a side entrance. Naturally, the room was full of people, servants, businessmen, guards, they all eyed him with fear. Ashlard realised he was still in human form, but at his full height and completely engulfed in flames, his very pores, oozing the hatred he felt for those who had hurt Runë.

And there, at the head of the room, wearing a simple crown, was the man in question, taking a step forward, he caught a crossbow bolt in the chest. His scales instinctively extended, preventing the bolt from piercing too deeply, that didn't stop his advance though. Soon, he was being bumped and jostled from side to side from the hail of bolts hitting him from all directions, pausing to catch a war hammer swung at his head, he pulled the weapon free from the solder, before grasping the stone head in one hand and crushing it to dust.

The King to his credit, did not attempt to flee, knowing he was at the mercy of a demon, he merely grasped his Queen by the hand, and directed her to stand behind him. Then it hit him, these people did not hate him, they feared him, Runë had been punished for feeding him, and keeping him strong, and yet she had still been able to continue coming to him.

Stopping just short of a solid wall of soldiers that positioned themselves between him and the king, Ashlard extinguished the flames that surrounded his body, retracting his scales, he pulled the bolt free from his chest, tossing it lightly aside and locking eyes with the king. The room was silent except for the panting of the soldiers, terrified, but standing regardless, he admired their courage.

Ashlard dropped to one knee, bowing his head.

"Please... Your majesty," he said, "I will do whatever you wish, please do not hurt Runë again."

He rose to his full height, turned and made his way back into the tunnel and returned to his cell. As he walked, not a single soul dared speak, nobody moved an inch, but he had hoped the King understood.

Blain and Runë were still by his cell when Ashlard returned. Blain wouldn't look at him, but Runë was scared. She trembled as she spotted his injury, offering her neck to him again, he bent, kissing the nape of her neck gently and continued towards his bed. Laying down he curled into a ball, facing the wall and extended a single large wing, covering himself completely and quickly falling into shallow sleep. Within minutes, he was interrupted, but gentle tugging on his wing. Pulling it aside slightly, he realised it was Runë, Ashlard cast his gaze around the room and spotted the light from a torch disappearing down the corridor. Ashlard shifted over slightly to make room, and Runë laid beside him, curling up into a ball herself. She was trying to be as close as she could without hurting her back, Ashlard thought about it a moment, before surging energy, rising to his full height, he was able to gently pull her into an embrace, where Runë could use his arm as a cushion, and he could curl around her better. His added size also meant he could cover the both of them with his massive wings, and soon they fell asleep.

The sound of rushing wind, a horrible crack, white pain running across bare skin... screaming... mine? Hers? In our head? A second crack, white pain, overlapping the first.

Ashlard snapped awake, he was trembling, crouched in the corner of the cell, cradling Runë with his wings wrapped tightly around them, she had placed her fingers into his mouth and pierced her skin on his fangs, he could taste her flowing into him, delving into the connection he could hear her beautiful humming. He sensed she was trying to soothe him, all the while he was trying to protect her from his own dreams, or were they hers? It didn't matter, nobody would ever hurt her again.

Removing her hand from his mouth, he noticed her trembling fingers, Ashlard leaned towards her, resting his head against hers, she gently stroked his cheek. How much had he taken from her? Why did she not leave? Feeling energy in the pit of his stomach, he delved into it, thinking he had found an injury. But instead, he found instinct, humming to himself, he found the energy began to throb in a slow and pleasant manner, outwards into the room, he could practically see the energy floating around the room, that's when he noticed Runë going limp in his arms. It seemed they both had harmony with one another, as soft snores escaped her, and soon he joined her, continuing to hum, even into unconsciousness.

Blain had been watching a while, he was only checking on Runë, he didn't trust Ashlard to not consume her entirely in this state. But he was pleasantly surprised to find him cradling her in his arms while they slept, as he approached the bars to the cell, he could feel a deep vibration in the air itself. Blain imagined he could actually see ripples as if looking through a flame at a distant object.

A cut on the back of his hand itched, and he instinctively scratched it, only to feel nothing but bare skin, examining the wound, he could see the freshly healed skin already darkening and turning into a light scar. From several metres away, Blain had healed a small scratch in a matter of moments, he hoped that Runë's wounds would heal also. The King had potentially made a grave enemy by bringing harm to her... He had warned him...

Blain was kneeling, the King sat above him, deep in thought, knowing the decision he must make would also make him some enemies.

"So be it," said King Raynor, "have the tower fit out to suit whatever needs the boy has, make sure his woman has room too, I don't need another confrontation, Captain Geev still hasn't regained all feeling to his hand."

"What happened to his hand?" asked Blain.

"The boy nearly broke it pulling his war hammer from his grip." The King rubbed his temples, clearly not accustomed to the situation.

Blain nodded in understanding, he knew how strong Ashlard was while he was in control. He still wasn't sure what exactly had happened, he was sure Ashlard would lay waste to the city. Instead he made a request of the King and returned to his cell. It had been 3 days, he hadn't yet left, and Runë only left his side infrequently. She was deathly afraid of what would happen if she was caught by another hatemonger. Ashlard may not be so calm if she were to be hurt again.

He slowly made his way into the darkened twisting corridor, bringing with him a pair of heavy cloaks. As he approached, he noticed the pair sitting comfortably on the floor of the cell, Blain had brought them food before being summoned by the King, and they had only just finished their shared meal. Ashlard noticed him first, staring blankly, Runë following his gaze spotted him a moment later, she climbed to her feet and shot a quick smile, at least someone was happy to see him.

"Put these on you pair," he said, throwing the cloaks through the hole in the bars.

Ashlard rose to his feet behind Runë, he was still towering at his full height, his head nearly brushing the ceiling. "Where are we going?" Ashlard asked.

"Your new quarters, and a bath," said Blain with a chuckle.

Blain noticed Runë place the tip of her finger into Ashlard's mouth, their wordless exchange, thought's and feelings, without the clarity of words. Ashlard seemed to be satisfied, humming and taking her hand gently, Ashlard shrunk himself down to a more manageable size and pulled the cloak over himself.

"Follow me," said Blain.

A short walk through the castle, starting in the familiar looking room where Ashlard had confronted the King, took them to a spiralling staircase.

"Here," said Blain, handing Ashlard a large key, "I'm not walking up those bloody stairs again, just keep walking, yours is the only door, though I suspect you probably won't use it very often."

After several floors, Ashlard noticed Runë starting to stagger, he had fed too much from her and the exertion was killing her. Ashlard reasoned that if there's was the only room, they probably didn't need the cloaks any more. Quickly pulling his off, he helped Runë remove hers. He had pangs of guilt seeing her face, where he was expecting to see her red faced and sweaty, she was instead pale and clammy. Ashlard immediately surged with power, raising back to his full height, before gently picking up Runë, cradling her in his arms, and continued the accent.

After an age, Ashlard finally found himself standing in front of a large metal door, he noticed at this point Runë had fallen asleep in his arms, but she stirred as he stopped walking, allowing him to put her down. Runë took the key from Ashlard as he shrank back to a size that would fit comfortably through the door and with a soft click opened the door. It swung open with the barest of force, on well oiled hinges. Inside was a well lit room, there was a large bed, with a smaller one off to one side, separated by a curtain. There was also a roaring fire already lit in the centre of the room, and around the walls was several bookshelves filled with hundreds of books and scrolls, between each shelf was a window, closed to the elements.

At the far end of the room, was a pair of huge doors, barred shut on the inside. Runë entered the room first, Ashlard followed quickly after her. The room was simple, and yet comfortable, he doubted anyone would be bothered climbing this high for no reason either. He turned, locking the door behind him, as he looked back, Runë was busy opening windows. It wasn't long before she realised one wasn't a window at all, but a sort of chute with a platform suspended by thin chain. Ashlard walked to the far end, lifting the wooden bar, and pushing open the doors. He was amazed, it lead out to a large balcony, there was no furniture, but the roof had been recently reshaped to provide more room. He was joined by Runë and the pair held hands while admiring the view of the whole city.

Ashlard could make out docks on one side of the city, and a forest covered mountain on the other, it occurred to him that his home in the forest was beyond that mountain... Frowning... How did he know his home was out there? Pushing the thought aside, Ashlard gave Runë's hand a quick squeeze, turning to face the edge of the balcony, he extended his great black wings, feeling the air catch them. He had to be careful, if the sea breeze was any stronger, he wouldn't be able to stay on land, and as if on queue, the gentle breeze let out into a firm gust, and in a flash, Ashlard was hovering several metres above the tower.

Angling himself back down, he drifted slowly in the air currents until he was eye level with Runë, she was even more beautiful in the sunlight. Her hair shining bright as the sun itself, her eyes twinkling like diamonds. Ashlard held out his hand, Runë just looked at it for a moment, before gently taking it, and stepping over the railing. Ashlard gave a quick flap of his wings, spinning 180 degrees in the air so he was facing away from Runë before sitting himself on the very edge by her feet, using his wings to keep balanced and steady in the breeze.

Runë couldn't believe what she was doing. Ashlard was more demon than man, and yet, he was so gentle. She couldn't help but trust him as he pulled her closer to the edge. She still couldn't see the ground. Placing her hands on his shoulders, Ashlard reached back, taking her legs and pulling her onto his back in a position that her feet sat snugly against his hips. She draped her arms over his shoulders. He was so warm, he hummed softly, letting her feel the vibrations pass through her. Runë was lost to thought just long enough not to realise Ashlard tip forward, and before she could let go, she was drifting away from the tower. Clinging to the back of a flying demon, black tar wings slowly beating as they drifted lazily around the tower. It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.

She loved this feeling, but she lurched as suddenly, Ashlard gave two hard flaps of his wings. Without warning, Ashlard pitched forward into a gentle dive. Runë's stomach hit her throat as they picked up speed, but Ashlard soon levelled out into a more natural flying position. Together they soared around above the city, gently raising when coming in contact with warm air, and turning away when they found colder air. Runë soon found she could shift her weight around on Ashlard's back to help him manoeuvre in the air. She had seen him twist and turn on his own, but she could sense he was being deliberately careful while she was with him.