The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (38 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“P
lease come in,” the servant greeted as he stepped aside allowing Darian to enter. Darian didn’t need to ask the whereabouts of his Master, he already knew. He traveled down the long carpeted corridor towards Kysen’s room on the second floor.

Kysen lay on the bed, a book in his hand. He smiled when Darian entered. “I take it everything went well tonight?”

“As well as one could expect,” Darian said. “Do you really want to talk?”

“Yes.” Kysen gazed at him lustfully.

Darian lowered his head, smiling devilishly. He looked at Kysen with smoldering eyes.

“What do you want to discuss?” he asked seductively.

“Why don’t you make yourself comfortable.” Kysen gestured to a chair beside his bed.

Darian looked at the chair but decided to sprawl on the bed beside Kysen, who smiled as he made himself comfortable. It had been eight centuries since the last time Darian had been in his bed and he cherished this moment.

“Tell me about these two lovers of yours?” Kysen asked as he ran his fingers lovingly through Darian’s long, wavy, jet black locks.

“You have already been introduced to Xavier,” he said. Kysen nodded, Darian continued. “The one you have yet to meet is Natasha Hemingway and she’s human.”

Kysen was perplexed and surprised by what Darian revealed.

“Why have you not turned her?” he asked, curious.

“You would have to meet this amazing woman to know the answer to that. She’s honest, loyal, courageous, intelligent… ” Darian paused. “ …Though our world confuses her at times, I find it most adorable when her naiveté peeks through. Sometimes, she’ll ask a question that I think may be self-explanatory, but I have to remember, this is still very new to her. Natasha puts her trust in those she feels that she can believe in. I suppose, she’s an innocent in that sense. ” He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “I believe Xavier said it best when he described her beauty as beautiful in a way that nature is beautiful. Do you understand? Of course you do.”

“The Gods have created her beauty, I do understand. Simplistic, but utterly compelling,” Kysen said as he let Darian’s long locks slip through his fingertips.

“Exactly. Her beauty is not only on the outside, but within. I don’t think she realizes just how special she is, which makes her even more so. This is the way it is with Xavier. It was his beauty that drew me to him but he wasn’t actually aware of his beauty. He was quite humble and not very confident in his true abilities. When I first met him, he was dying on the cobblestone streets of Chicago. He had been shot by one of Al Cantone’s hoodlums and left for dead in an alley. I could smell his blood in the air and when I first laid eyes upon him, I was stunned. From his long silky brown hair to his soft gray eyes, I was bewitched. I took him without hesitation then and there. I taught him, told him things I’ve never revealed to my other fledglings.”

Darian sat up in the bed, turning to Kysen who was listening intensely to every word. “I believe at that moment when I took Xavier for myself, I began to realize why you had chosen me. There was a fire inside of him, an intensity burning and I wanted to make it grow, I wanted to show him his true potential, his power.”

Kysen laid his back against the pillows, both hands behind his head for support, his eyes still locked on Darian. “I had heard of your victories at the Games before I came to see the great Darian Alexander with my own eyes. Rumors of your beauty as well as you athleticism had spread even to the kingdoms of Egypt which was where I was living at the time. I was intrigued. I thought it would be entertaining to meet you. But when I laid eyes upon you, I was completely taken. I wanted you.”

Darian tossed Kysen a sideways glance. “Kidnapping is a great skill of yours,” he teased.

Kysen chuckled deeply. “If you say so. I recall you accompanying me of your own volition. Besides, I prefer to think of it as being tenacious in achieving one’s desires. A true man makes his own destiny. I believe that is one of the many lessons I have taught you.”

“I remember them all well,” Darian replied with a charming smile before continuing. “Xavier had a fascination with the mafia and had aspirations of becoming a ‘wise guy’. Those desires didn’t die when he became a vampire. In the months that followed, as he began to understand the true depth of his immortality, I found myself giving into his fantasy. I allowed him to conduct meetings with business associates in my stead. I even patronized a great deal of the mobster ‘hot spots’ with him at my side as my ‘right-hand man’.” Darian began to laugh fondly, thinking about the past. “I even found myself posing for photographs as mobsters did in those days, fully equipped with suits and weaponry.”

Kysen chuckled. “I remember the wrestling matches I had with you during your early years when you wanted to indulge in the activities of your past life.”

Darian studied Kysen, smiling. “I remember those nights. They were very special.”

“Every night with you was special to me, also.” Kysen caressed Darian’s cheek gently. “Now, tell me how you met this woman.”

“Well, ‘
this woman’
being Natasha was different from Xavier, yet they both share the same inner passion that I adore. When I’m around them, I feel myself… quickened... I feel alive in ways that I had long since forgotten. Xavier had met Natasha initially and had romanticized her in his mind as he described her to me. I believe he had fallen in love in their first meeting. When he first told me about her, I was not at all impressed. I figured he would bed her and lose interest. But there was an incident that occurred involving one of my fledglings hell bent on killing me, I suppose. Natasha, along with two S.U.I.T. detectives came to my office asking for my assistance in apprehending two supernaturals on a killing spree that had lasted for several days.”

Kysen’s lifted one eyebrow. “Did you assist them?” he asked

“I wasn’t willing to at first. I had no idea how convincing the little lady really was. I remember telling her that I didn’t care what happened to humans and she did something to me that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I saw it coming, but made no move to stop it. I think there was some part of me that was in denial, thinking she’d never follow through. I was wrong. She struck me as hard as she could across my cheek.”

“And you did not strike her down?” Kysen asked, shocked.

“That was my first thought. To kill her before any of them knew what happened. But then I thought about what she did. I had never met a woman with such audacity, such feistiness and bravery. I believe that I became enamored with her instantly. I decided to help only because I wanted her and I knew that I would have to help others if I were to gain her favor.”

“Ah, a hidden agenda. Tell me, Darian. Did she succumb quickly?” Kysen chuckled.

“Not at all.” Darian smiled wickedly.

Kysen sighed. “You needn’t lower yourself to the level of some foolish human. Who is she that you should bow to her every whim?”

“Kysen, I find it more challenging and satisfying if I am able to achieve my desires with my charm and sex appeal rather than brute force or resorting to using mental abilities,” Darian chuckled.

Kysen tossed him a castoff expression.

Darian continued. “I began to pursue her at the same time that Xavier pursued her. I believe that we both overwhelmed and spoiled her. She fought hard against my advances and if you can believe it, I’ve had to wait eight months before we... ” He smiled as his voice trailed off. “ … But it was worth it. I’ve never had to wait to have anything that I wanted. I will admit to you only that it was a humbling experience. I’m sure you already know this about me.”

Kysen nodded. “So now you are in love and loved in return.” He exhaled as he sat up, leaning closer to Darian. “I have missed you greatly. There are no words to describe my longing for you but to know that you have found happiness in this world is my greatest wish for you, even if it’s not with me.”

“Kysen, you don’t have to explain.”

“Yes, I do. I owe you that much. I want you to understand my point of view.” Kysen lowered his head as he continued. “When I brought you over, I wanted so many things for you to experience. I believed that I was the only one who could give them to you. I became selfish in my love and desire for you.” He lifted his head, meeting Darian’s eyes. “This new life that you share with these beings is good. More than anything, I wanted you to survive. I have seen many of our kind parish for one reason or another, mostly from the loneliness. For immortal beings, we must find a happy medium at all times. Very few of our kind succeed in finding loyal companionship because our existence is a brutal one. We are predators in every sense of the word and because of that, many of our kind cannot be trusted, betrayal is almost inevitable.”

“Kysen, do you believe that I’ve betrayed you?”

“I would be lying to you now if I were to say, ’no’.”

Darian opened his mouth to speak, but Kysen placed a finger over his lips, silencing him.

“Let me finish,” he removed his finger. “I had forgotten the man that you were, the adventurer, the champion. Living under me for eternity was never in your future, I know that now. I knew it then, that’s why I fought it. I’m selfish that way,” he smiled. “I have looked into the souls of your companions. I know what they think of you. I have peeked into the mind of your lover, he adores you and would die for you. I know that if there ever came a time when he would want to go off on his own, I know that you would let him go. This is where I failed you.”

Darian nodded, amazed by Kysen’s composure. “I must say, I thought our first meeting after all of these centuries apart would have been more… I don’t know… volatile.”

“Did you think that I would kill you?”

“The thought did cross my mind.”

Kysen laughed out loud.

“Is that why you stayed clear of me? My little survivor,” he looked at Darian, studying his features. “Although, I am very capable of doing such things, I could never kill you. If I wanted to, I would have done so before now. No, I love you far too much to destroy such a beautiful…” his eyes trailed down Darian’s body, longingly. “ …creation.”

“This is good to know.” Darian smiled.

“Tell me, were you happy with me?”

“For many centuries, I was.”

“That is good to know. You are strong and wise, feared and admired. This makes me happy. I request only one thing of you. You may refuse me if you so choose

”

”Say no more,” Darian interrupted. He placed a finger gently over Kysen’s lips to silence him.

Kysen gazed lustfully into Darian’s forest-green eyes. Darian removed his finger as he leaned forward, pressing his lips to Kysen’s, ardently. They embraced
each other, crushing their chests together as they kissed, their hands exploring each other, caressing strong limbs and flesh, traveling upward, their fingers entangling in each other’s luxurious hair. They kissed for several moments until Kysen pulled away. Darian opened his eyes, watching him, waiting for his Master’s next move. They stared at each other until Darian took the initiative, unbuttoning his own shirt as Kysen watched him. Slowly, Darian’s fingers undid the pearl buttons on his shirt to reveal his perfectly muscled torso. He slid the shirt off of his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor beside the bed. He then began to remove his pants, undoing his tan leather belt followed by the top button and finally the zipper.

Kysen’s hand reached out, stopping him. “Lay face down on the bed,” he instructed in a soft tone.

Darian obeyed, his eyes closing at the same time. Kysen began to remove Darian’s shoes, placing them beside the bed. Next, he removed his socks and finally, he slipped his fingers under the waistband of Darian’s slacks, slowly sliding them down past buttocks, thighs and calves, tossing them in a chair next to the bed.

Kysen stared down at Darian’s body.

“Simply breath-taking,” he whispered seductively as he sensuously ran his fingertips over Darian’s flesh, causing his child to quiver with pleasure. He leaned into Darian’s ear. “Beautiful... perfect.”

A soft moan escaped Darian’s lips as Kysen’s fingers trailed between the mounds of his buttocks, caressing and messaging the sensitive opening. Kysen smiled as he reached over, removing a small vial of scented oil from his nightstand drawer. He poured the oil into the palm of his right hand before placing the vial on top of the stand. He rubbed both hands together lathering them completely. Climbing onto his knees, he massaged the oil into Darian’s skin, his hands kneading Darian’s arms and the back of his thighs and calves. Kysen gazed with admiration as he looked at Darian’s perfection. All that he had sought to preserve was indeed glorious in his eyes.