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Paid in Blood

Chapter 24

Azrian hated what Atieno had single-handedly done to the group. When once they were laughing and smiling, now they despised each other. The next morning, they traveled in complete silence, with Chase at the far back of the procession, so ashamed of what he had done - and of what had been done to him - that he hadn't spoken a word since the night before. He also appeared so tensely angry that everyone gave him a wide berth. His eyes glinted hatred each time he looked at Captain Franklin, for despite the fact that the captain had been under Atieno's thrall, Chase seemed to blame him for everything that was happening. The captain had bowed to Nkwe's opinion, the captain had allowed Atieno to join them, the captain had failed to protect his soldiers and was continuing to fail, docile and cowardly. And the result had been painful and humiliating rape. If Chase had ever respected Franklin before, he didn't any longer.

Captain Franklin made certain to walk at the front of the group, too ashamed to have to look at anyone, Chase in particular. He kept his eyes on the ground, and his mouth was always sad, his brows always pinched. Because of Atieno, Azrian could not reach his mind, but she got the feeling Captain Franklin had long been harboring feelings for Chase. If there was ever any chance the captain could finally do something to earn Chase's respect - if not his love - that chance was long gone now.

Nkwe was so cold and aloof, Azrian couldn't hope to read him, but she knew he had to be agonizing over what had happened between him and Guss the night before. Long after the others were sitting in silence and shame, Guss was on his knees before Nkwe, sucking him off as he was still tied to the tree. Nkwe swore and moaned and panted as he was forced to throbbing arousal again, and then he came a second time in Guss' mouth, moaning helplessly as it happened. Guss seemed only too eager the swallow.

From Etienne's description of Nkwe, the fox was very straight and very proud and very serious. He and his sister once confessed that they'd given their bodies to a dog in exchange for their lives, and that was how they had escaped justice. Etienne had surmised that such a thing - being forcefully taken by a male after he had forcefully taken so many females - had left Nkwe forever changed. To have that happen to him again with Guss . . . Azrian could only imagine what silent rage was burning inside him. He was tied to a tree, licked, and molested - and in front of a crowd. After it was over, he was left bound for a very long time, with his penis bare and hanging free in the cold wind. Guss continued to toy with him on occasion the night through, and he hadn't been able to do a thing about it: Atieno canceled out his magical abilities with an a careless wave.

Azrian knew the orgy was Nkwe's punishment. Atieno humiliated Nkwe and the female he cared about to remind him that he was helpless, to put him in his place after he dared to speak against him. But Nkwe didn't seem to have resigned himself to "his place." He glared at Atieno openly, looked with sad eyes at Natasha, and gave Azrian several spiteful glances that plainly said he wished she'd never left S'pru.

Natasha, meanwhile, seemed to hate Nkwe all the more, only now she hated Chase as well. It didn't seem to matter that Chase had been under Atieno's thrall: she loathed him entirely and gave him glares that would have incinerated him had she been a sorceress. After the orgy, Atieno allowed her to walk free of her rope. No longer was she forced to crawl on a leash. He even ordered Nkwe to give her his cloak. She accepted the cloak resentfully, snatching it from Nkwe with trembling breasts and turning her face away as she wrapped herself against the cold. As if to spite Nkwe and Chase both, she actually sat in Atieno's lap and allowed him to pet her. Her tail wagged slowly from the petting and she dropped her head on Atieno's shoulder. Atieno lifted her chin and kissed her tenderly. His paw slipped inside the cloak to squeezed her breasts, and when she melted into the kiss, Azrian thought Nkwe and Chase would both explode in fiery unison.

Guss was the only one who hadn't been effected by Atieno's puppeteering. Azrian found that interesting. The others were Atieno's toys to bend and break as he pleased, but not Guss. Guss had fondled and licked Natasha and Chase - and even Nkwe - of his own freewill. Atieno had watched it all in amusement, but it was clear he was not forcing Guss to do anything. It could only mean one thing: Guss was already under the thrall of another! He was bound by magic to some other sorcerer. But what fox would form such a bond with him and why?

If Guss was truly immune to Atieno's magic, then it was good news for Azrian. It meant she could reach his mind, speak to him, and ask for his help! Time was running out. They were drawing near the door that would take them to their final destination, and then it would be too late. She had to act now.

The group was walking in silence when Azrian made her move. Short and solid Guss was walking along beside her, his crossbow on his back, his loose mane tumbling in eyes that were a little sad and pensive. She could feel his worry and regret pealing off him like steam, and as her mind reached out, she could hear his thoughts. He wasn't even _thinking_about what he'd done to Nkwe and the others the night before. In fact, he felt no shame at all and would have done it again, gladly. He had long entertained thoughts of sucking off both Nkwe and Chase -- and even Captain Franklin -- and groping and suckling Natasha's breasts had been his dream come true. He felt no remorse. His thoughts were with his mother. He was wandering how she was doing, if she'd ever managed to fix the chair he'd neglected to look at for her. Then he blinked, and seeming to feel Azrian's presence in his mind, he looked at her with a startled expression and his mouth fell open.

Don't speak, don't say a word! Azrian hissed quickly.

Guss slowly looked away and obediently said nothing. His ears flattened and he swallowed hard, and when he glanced anxiously at Atieno, Azrian knew he was terrified the powerful fox would discover their silent conversation and end them both. But Atieno was walking at the front of the procession with Natasha, and he was so busy peering ahead for his "door in the hill" that he wasn't paying the least bit of attention.

I'm going to send you for help, Azrian said.

Guss shook his head bitterly. Who could possibly help us if even you are powerless against him, Most Holy?

Azrian smiled sadly. Don't call me that.

Guss looked at her in amazement and quickly looked away again. Why? You are the most holy. You came from the sky to deliver us from sin, didn't you? You just need someone to free you from that - demon! He glared at Atieno's back.

. . . exactly, Azrian said. She would rather humor him than waste time explaining that she was no one's savior. She hadn't come from the sky . . . she'd fallen from the sky. Which is why I need you to do what I say now, she said to Guss.

But what can I do? Guss wondered unhappily.

Azrian smiled at him. You can do a great deal. She glanced darkly at Atieno's back. I will create a distraction. While he is dealing with me, you will flee.

Guss' ears pricked forward in horror. But he'll hurt you! And he'll kill me before I can take two steps!

No, said Azrian with a little smile, he won't. You are the only one he could not control the night before. Why? I believe you have some protection over you, some powerful spell that binds you to another. Atieno can not break that binding to harm you. He is not a god, Guss. Just a very powerful sorcerer.

But . . . he's your brother. He must've been a god once.

That is true. Now . . . prepare yourself.

But who could I find? Who could possibly help us against him?

Whoever bound you, Guss, is a very powerful being. Call to him. He will hear.

Guss smiled sadly. I don't think they're a him, Most Holy. But . . . I'll try.

Good. Go now! Run!

Without waiting, Azrian launched at Atieno's back. She and her brother went down in a heap as the others halted in surprise. Azrian grabbed Atieno by the mane and slammed his face in the mud. He sputtered and roared angrily, but he fought back at once, twisting around to grab her by the face and shove her off. She fell hard on her tail and her full breasts bounced as he sat up to glare at her.

"You . . . fucking cunt!" Atieno roared. "You must've lost your_mind_ --!"

Azrian only smiled: she could hear the thump of Guss' boots as he fled. But Atieno didn't understand why she was smiling, and before she had realized it, he was striking her across the face. Azrian gasped as she collapsed to the ground. Her cheek scraped a rock and pain exploded across her teeth, spreading in a web under her eye. She could taste blood and didn't think she could move, stunned as she was from the blow. Atieno was looming over her to strike again when she heard the others rallying. There was a ching as swords were drawn, and then Natasha was screaming, "GET HIM!"

"You're all mad!" Atieno shouted in disbelief. "I'll kill you all like the slugs you are!"

Nkwe was the first to leap forward, but Atieno blasted him back with a wave of his paw. He slammed hard into a tree and slumped to the ground unconscious.

"No!" Natasha wailed and leapt forward with a rock. She and the others lunged at Atieno, swords drawn, and attacked. With glinting eyes, Atieno battled them, waving his paws, conjuring fire to burn them and lightning to singe them. Their roars and shrieks of pain echoed through the trees, but they didn't stop, didn't hesitate. Chase fought with the most aggression and with the most wild-eyed hatred, but it was Captain Franklin who proved the most relentless. The captain kept coming no matter what Atieno threw at him, but he was easily disarmed regardless. With a determined frown, he leapt at Atieno and managed to wrestle the powerful sorcerer into a headlock.

"You dare!" Atieno shouted and threw the captain off. Franklin fell with a cry to the ground, and in seconds, Atieno was standing grim over him. He grabbed Franklin by the neck and held him aloft like an empty sack. The small captain hung above Atieno, choking and kicking, as Natasha screamed angrily for Atieno to stop. Chase, however, didn't do anything. He just stood there, watching bitterly as the captain choked to death. Behind him, Nkwe was coming to.

"No! Leave him alone!" Natasha shouted. "Chase, do something!"

Chase didn't even look at her. He continued to watch as Captain Franklin choked, and there was a satisfied light in his eyes.

Natasha's eyes flashed, and with blood oozing from her lip, she lunged at Atieno. She was sent flying back when Atieno waved his paw, swatting her off like a fly. She crashed through the leaves and the mud, little rocks scraping her fur and drawing lines of blood. Her soft screams of pain seemed to awaken Nkwe, who scowled and lunged immediately at Atieno.

Atieno never saw it coming. He was too busy choking Captain Franklin until the veins were standing out in his face. Nkwe punched Atieno viciously, and the blow blasted Atieno with lightning. Atieno screamed as it jolted through his fur. He dropped the gasping captain to the ground and tumbled over, hugging himself and sobbing. As Captain Franklin crawled away, Nkwe slowly approached the once-god, panting and gasping, but grimly proud of his triumph.

Atieno leaned back on his paws and looked up at Nkwe in calm amusement. Nkwe slowly lifted his paw, prepared to deliver the final strike that would surely kill Atieno. And lying in the dirt as she watched, Azrian was impressed. If she'd ever guessed that Nkwe could possibly best Atieno, she might have approached him for help long before. But Nkwe himself hadn't been aware that he could best Atieno. And perhaps he hadn't been able to. The sheer force behind his magic had come of raw anger. Seeing Natasha in danger . . . had empowered him.

Nkwe's paw crackled with lightning, and as he was preparing to blast Atieno, he paused when the once-god whispered, "You need me."

Nkwe's lip curled. "Of _course_you'd say that."

"And it's true," Atieno said, smiling through the blood on his lip. "You kill me now, and you will never see Mogethis and Zeinara again."

Nkwe hesitated. Behind him, Chase's throat tightened and he shouted, "Kill the fucker! What are you waiting for!"

Nkwe hesitated again, and when his fingers curled, Azrian thought he was going to kill Atieno. But his lips tightened and he slowly lowered his paw, letting the lightning on his fingers fizzle out.

Atieno smiled and got to his feet. "Smart," he said, adjusting his singed robes.

Chase shook his head bitterly. "You had him!" he shouted at Nkwe. "You pussy! You could have killed him and ended this!"

Nkwe stared coldly into the distance and said nothing.

"Yes, he could have," Atieno taunted as he took up his staff. "I am mortal, after all." He glanced around the trees and sighed. "And it seems we are one dog less. Where is the little cocksucker?"

The others glanced around, and Azrian could see them realizing that Guss had fled. The others appeared so initially shocked, it became apparent Guss had never run from a fight. Captain Franklin massaged his throat and stared sadly at his boots, no doubt blaming himself for their predicament. Chase shook his head darkly, and Azrian had the feeling he would kill Guss for his "desertion" if he ever saw him again. Nkwe seemed as angry as Chase and a little surprised. He glanced around the trees in disbelief, as if he would spot Guss hiding somewhere.

Natasha alone seemed more worried about Azrian than Guss. She crawled through the dirt to Azrian, and with sympathy in her eyes, she helped Azrian to her feet.

"Are you alright, Most Holy?" Natasha whispered.

Azrian smiled to reassure Natasha. Guss had gotten away. Maybe he would return with the sorcerer who'd bound him. And even if he didn't, at least he was safe now. Hopefully.

"Come along, children," Atieno said, hefting the pack on his back, "we have a door to get to, have we not? Bandage your boo boos and let's go." He turned away.

They arrived at the door in the hill when night had fallen. What Atieno didn't tell the others - and what Azrian had dreaded all along - was that the door in the hill needed a blood offering to open it. Sealed in the name of Hildrith'el, it could not be opened by any save those who desired peace.

Azrian and the others stood before the door, huddled together in the darkness and rain, and by the light of Nkwe's staff, Azrian silently read the inscription carved in the language of her ancestors. According to the writing, the door was created by foxes who wished to flee north to the lands of snow. The northern realm was referred to by the inscription as NorthlynHarbor, for it offered sanctuary to dog and fox alike from the "storm" of the southern lands. It was a place of peace, where dogs and foxes were not permitted to war upon each other. Any who warmongered were sent south to what the natives called "the lands of war" and were never seen again. Otherwise, they were immediately executed. The door's inscription gave a blunt warning: those who spilled blood in NorthlynHarbor would pay in blood.

"The door says something about a blood price," Nkwe said darkly. He stood beside Azrian, his blue eyes squinting as he peered from his hood in the drizzling rain. The light of his staff made his eyes almost dazzle.

Azrian knew Nkwe couldn't understand all the words in the inscription. It was written in the ancient language of the foxes, and many of the words used by the ancients had been lost to time. Nkwe knew what the door said only in part. Azrian knew what the door said in full. Becoming Second Light had given her a direct tie to Skkye's oldest magic, which meant acquiring access to the entirety of the ancient tongue. She could speak it fluently still, even if she had lost her immortality. She watched Atieno from the corners of her eyes and silently hated him. A blood offering was only necessary to open the door because he was barred from it. Atieno could not cross into a protected place without using someone else's skin to cover who he was. In this case, he needed blood.

Atieno glared at Azrian, and she darkly looked away. "I require your lifeblood, bitch," he said to Natasha without turning. He stared grimly at the door as he pulled a dagger from his cloak. Azrian went still: it was the Skkye Glass.

Natasha stiffened as she watched the raindrops glide translucent over the blade.

"No!" Nkwe bellowed - so loudly the light on his staff dissolved and they were plunged in darkness.

Thunder roared and lightning cracked, momentarily casting them and the surrounding forest in shades of gray. In the split-second of light, Azrian could see the fear etched on Nkwe's face. He put his paw on Natasha's arm without taking his gaze from Atieno, and she looked at him with soft eyes.

Captain Franklin stood miserably behind Nkwe, his head down, too afraid to protest. Azrian couldn't even remember the last time she'd heard his voice. He seemed broken and disheveled, standing drenched in the rain, his mane slicked tight to his cheeks.

Chase stood stiffly and his glares were not spared for anyone. He even seemed to hate Azrian, as if he expected her to have done something, to have stopped what was happening. "Why?" his furious eyes asked each time they looked at her. He wanted to know why she - the supposed reincarnation of Queen Nadheertia - had allowed Atieno to subdue and torment them. His eyes demanded answers Azrian could not give. She could only look at him with sympathy, wishing she could remind him that Nadheertia had been subdued by King Anthony. If she really was Nadheertia, her downfall was not so surprising.

"No?" Atieno repeated calmly. Azrian thought he looked very tired. His bright brown eyes hooded as he stood with the dagger almost hanging in his grasp. Azrian's eyes flashed angrily: was he bored with his games already?

"No," Nkwe said darkly. He pulled Natasha roughly into his arms and held her tightly to his chest. "Not her. Take someone else!"

Natasha's lashes fluttered in surprise, but her face darkened and she pulled away. She rubbed her arm and seemed unable to look at Nkwe. Nkwe was hurt by her rejection but just as determined to protect her.

"I won't let him hurt you anymore," Nkwe quietly told Natasha.

The pretty mastiff still wouldn't look at Nkwe and only hugged herself, shrugging her shoulders as if against his words.

"My yellow flower . . ." Nkwe whispered sadly. "I'm so sorry . . . avell, mi gilana."

I'm sorry, my treasure.

Natasha closed her eyes, as if his apology pained her.

Chase watched the pair of them, hating them both, even as Captain Franklin stood behind him, watching him sadly.

Atieno slowly smiled. "Aw, look at that. I knew you loved her."

Nkwe's eyes darted angrily at Atieno and his body tightened.

"You would do anything for her, wouldn't you?" Atieno went on, very amused now. "Would you . . ." Atieno offered the dagger, ". . . kill for her?"

Nkwe froze, his frightened eyes on the blade as rainwater glided over it. Lightning flashed again, and Azrian could see more clearly the fear and hesitation in his gaze.

"Take it," Atieno said and let the dagger fall with a smirk to the mud. He turned away. "And kill Franklin with it."

Captain Franklin's head snapped up. He looked at Nkwe with large, frightened eyes. "P-Please . . .!" he sputtered as Nkwe took the dagger from the mud with a shaking paw.

Azrian's heart leapt. If Franklin was stabbed with Skkye Glass --! She reached out to Nkwe, tried desperately to enter his mind, but Atieno smirked, and she knew he was blocking her. Suddenly furious, Azrian flew at Atieno and drummed him with her fists. He grappled with her only a moment, then grabbed her by the arm and twisted it behind her back, forcing her breasts to jut as he whispered tauntingly in her ear, ". . . watch the show, little sister. Watch the show."

"Nicky, don't!" Natasha begged. She took a step toward Nkwe, but he held out his paw.

"I have to," Nkwe said and swallowed hard. "If I kill Franklin . . . you will live."

A tear gathered in Natasha's eye. "N-Nicky . . ." Her eyes lifted to Chase. "Do something!"

Chase sneered at her. "You always run to me when you want something done." He shook his head bitterly. "I wish you'd ever run to me when you needed someone to hold you. But you never look my way then, do you?" He looked at Nkwe. "Kill the pussy! It's his fault we're in this mess! And yours!"

Nkwe's eyes snapped on Captain Franklin, clouded with regret. Lightning flashed, and in the momentary brightness, Azrian could see him making his way toward Franklin, who backed away, horrified.

"Nkwe - I thought we were f-friends! P-Please . . . Don't hurt me!"

"Right in his heart, Nkwe!" Atieno called above the thunder. "Or else it won't work!"

"P-Please . . ." the captain sobbed in the darkness. "A-Ahh!"

A thump as Franklin fell. Then silence. And only the sound of the rain.

Eventually, a ball of light appeared, hovering over Atieno's paw as it beat back the darkness. Atieno's face was expressionless as he looked at Nkwe, who sat in the mud with his head bowed under his hood. Franklin lay not two feet away, staring unseeing at the sky.

Needs met, Atieno casually took the dagger up from the mud and turned to the door with it. Azrian watched, eyes dull with anger, as he touched the bloody blade to the door. The door split down the center and opened, pulling back like a wooden curtain.

"What are you waiting for," Atieno said, his back to the others.

Chase swallowed hard, and determined not to look at his captain's staring body, he approached the door and disappeared into the swirling light. Natasha followed with tears in her eyes. Nkwe entered the door last, his face hard and expressionless.

Atieno's grip tightened on Azrian's arm as he pulled her toward the swirling light. "Isn't this exciting? The day will dawn with a new god, a new _power_to shake Aonre. Won't that put a damper in _Daddy's_plans?"

Azrian's lip curled as she stumbled to keep up with Atieno. He sounded so very proud of himself.

"I have seen the inside of dear Willy Franklin's mind. That's why I chose him. He is filled with such anger and hatred as you wouldn't believe." Atieno smirked. "It's always the quiet ones. He'll head directly to Wychowl, and then your precious Etienne --"

If you hurt Etienne --! Azrian began furiously.

Atieno laughed softly. "Baby sister," he said with mock astonishment and hurt, "I have no interest in hurting Etienne. I simply wish to relish in how badly he'll get hurt."

Azrian's fangs set.

They passed through the portal and the light dissolved behind them, plunging the forest in darkness once more.

Captain Franklin's body lay staring in the leaves and mud, still in the quiet rain, as dark blood poured in streams from his torn heart. When the first rays of dawn washed gentle over him, he blinked . . . and sat up.