Chapter Seven

"I do not understand it. Why live in a home so large when there are merely three dwelling within? Should you not invite others to live here, or simply make your abode smaller? Or perhaps collect tiny beasts to live with us? Oh, then I suppose, there are five that dwell here, not three."

"You are confusing yourself again, sister mine. Hush before you choke on your food... again."

A smile touched my lips as I watched Satanika and Starkin discuss our home over our second meal. A meal that consisted of a large freshly roasted pig, vegetables of all colors, fruits of all shapes, and desserts ranging in sweetness from sugary and buttery to bitter and sour. It was a banquet set out upon the long clear glass table in the hall in which we dined, just before that in which we made the food.

Geara sat to my left, hiding her smile behind a glass of red wine. Xiphrus sat across from me, laughing at Satanika's suggestions. Starkin merely shook his head as Satanika was triggered into another conversation of the home's many empty quarters above the main floor.

"We simply must have a bird room," Satanika decided, thumping her fist down on her hand and pointing her finger up, a symbol of satisfaction, "Aye, yes, that is what Starkin and I shall do then this afternoon. We shall go to the forest and seek birds to collect for one of the rooms above. We shall build cute tiny homes and prepare them food fit for a phoenix."

"I do not like birds," Starkin replied dryly, ripping a piece of bread in half so that he may scoop out the soft insides to devour, "They are much too loud and bright. If we should be taking on pets, I wish for a reptile of sorts. A snake is preferable."

"I concur," I agreed with a nod and Satanika wrinkled her nose.

"A snake? Whatever could you possibly find cute about a snake?"

"I think they're impossibly cute," I responded sincerely, swirling my wine in my glass, "They are preciously smooth and come in all colors, bright and neutral. They are clever and peaceful and make no noise. Their eyes are like glass orbs that see all."

"And I very much enjoyed the little tongue thing they do," Starkin pointed out.

"Ah, you mean this?" I flicked my tongue out and Starkin laughed. The others joined in and the meal continued as thus; playful and fun, carefree. It was a huge relief given the tension brought on by recent events. A good break to let the mind ease, the body conserve strength.

Though, there was lingering frustration, I noticed, particularly on Geara's part. Her visit with the other creatures to investigate Thia's attack had been fruitless, and I had kept Prixius's attack between Xiphrus and myself. There was no need to concern Geara with it. Prixius clearly hadn't attacked Thia as his method of attack was made with scythe blades, not wire and not brute force. It was a slow painful death that had nearly taken our Thia away from us. One done by someone who was sadistic, yet held a form of regret once he was finished, given the way he'd hidden Thia's body from sight.

The investigation was cold at the moment.

Therefore, it was time to rest and recuperate before continuing. It was our only hope that whoever had done this would not strike again. Not that it was easy now. Since Thia's attack, creatures had shut themselves away and kept out of the forests, particularly at night when coverage was much easier for predators lurking in the shadows. Most creatures had bonded into small groups to protect themselves, creatures they were sure they could trust, not that that was easy, considering trust was dwindling by the day.

Even in my heart, while I told myself things would all be well in the end, there was a lingering fear, a distrust in those around me.

My eyes drifted briefly toward Xiphrus, who was laughing at something Satanika was saying. I felt guilt as well, for Xiphrus had returned to his normal cheery self, there was a part of me that was unsure in his actions. He'd changed back so abruptly, without much explanation. All he would say was that he simply realized the error of his way and would do his best to refrain from approaching Atlan until the investigation had cooled.

Second meal came to an end and everyone disappeared to do their own activities for the day. Satanika and Starkin had left for the gardens while Geara went to visit Thia, and Xiphrus disappeared to his quarters for a midday nap. I stood in the main hall, listening to the silence of the home around me before I returned to my quarters to dress for my afternoon run.

Normally I'd take it in the morning, but this morning I felt odd, like I had to continue sleeping through until noon. It had left me feeling a tad dizzy and ill, however. Thankfully, meal time and a good run would cure it.

I changed into a pair of tight black pants and a sleeveless top with a high neck collar. I twisted my hair up into a ponytail that dangled down my back, and paused to look in the reflective surface of mirror that hung above the fire pit.

"He is beautiful, though, your brother... He is fair and lovely. Like a female, yet he is one of us."

I reached up and brushed my fingers over high cheekbones, tracing the line of them down to my jawline, then touched my nose. Straight and smooth. Lips plush and pert. Face narrow and feminine. Skin nearly as white as freshly fallen snow, long straight hair to match, eyes the color of the reddish pink in a sunset. I drew my hand back from my face to look down at it, the long slender fingers and soft palm.

I clenched it into a fist and dropped it at my side, frowning at my reflection.

The Source created me, and my siblings, to represent pure beauty. We knew we were beautiful, as the Source would only create such things. We were perfection. For as long as we had our vessels, I understood this. I loved my vessel and the beauty the Source breathed into it.

However, I suddenly found myself wishing I could scratch my skin off my face and rip my eyes from my skull, peel my lips away until there was nothing but the pale skeleton beneath. It was horrible of me to think of destroying something the Source had slaved over. Yet, I could not stop the thoughts seeping into my brain, urging me to at least smash my face against the glass, or better yet, press it into the hot coals of the fire pit.

For so long, I had lived content with my perfection and suddenly, I found it abhorable.

I took a deep breath, turning away from the mirror to pick up a sheet from the foot of the bed, unfolding it and draping it over the mirror above the fire pit, taking care not to let the drapes linger into the fire pit. I stepped back, then vanished from my place in my quarters to the trail down below. I stood at the lip of the trail, staring down its stamped down grass, the dirt rising to the surface over it, stretching down alongside the meadow and the forest. The sound of insects buzzing and chirping joining the songbirds in the trees. The sun was warm, yet the air was cool, a gentle breeze whispering through the leaves overhead. The grass in the meadow swayed and I stared out at the tall green grass waving, the occasional pockets of flowers collaborating on the project of greetings.

"Lovely, is it not?" I stiffened, then snapped around, relaxing only slightly when I saw Xiphrus standing behind me, staring out at the meadow. How had I not heard him arrive? How long had he been standing there?

"I suppose," I said after a moment, looking at him and his attire questionably. He wore an outfit similar to mine, though, his pants were blue, his top white. He approached me, eyes still locked on the meadow. Finally, as if sensing my stare, he turned to look at me and smiled warmly.

"May I join you? I find it difficult to sleep this afternoon," he explained. I cocked my head at him, confused by his offer mostly because he'd never been interested in joining me for my jogs. His attention span really wasn't suited to it, but given that he was offering, I couldn't really turn him down, so I inclined my head and he brightened.

I turned down the trail and started with Xiphrus sticking close to me as we sprinted. It was a silent sprint along the meadow and into the woods. Xiphrus didn't speak, but I could hear his breath coming in sharp gasps as he ran, having a surprising difficulty in keeping up with me. It made the corner of my lips twitch, but I said nothing to mock him for his attempt. We continued for just a while until I was sure Xiphrus was ready to pass out and we slowed down as we drew near the lake and finally stopped on the shore.

Xiphrus made a noise of distress before collapsing into the sand, flopping on his back, taking deep heavy breaths as I stood over him, a hand on my hip.

"Verily, brother, you are not in good shape. How you manage to keep such a fine physique is beyond my comprehension," I said to him. Xiphrus pouted, but a smile tore across his face as he continued to pant for breath.

"Please, I exercise my vessel, just not in this way. I prefer lifting weights, among other things," he replied drolly, then grinned, "Perhaps you should attempt my regimine." I shook my head, folding my arms over my chest as I looked down my nose at him.

"I enjoy running. It feels much like flying, I imagine anyway," I responded. Xiphrus's blue eyes twinkled at that, then he reached up and took me by the wrist, yanking me down into the sand with him. I grunted upon the impact into the sand, blinking rapidly before I realized Xiphrus had hefted himself above me, propping himself up on his hands and smiling down at me, his long black hair falling free of its tie to drape around his face.

"Aye, running has its perks, I suppose, but I can think of a much better way to work your body to its limits. And make you feel like you are flying, flying so high above that you can once again become one with the Source." His words sent chills through me and I wanted to look away from those intense blue eyes, but I found myself unable. They were like twin pools of crystal water, sparkling under the sunlight. His words hardly registered as I struggled to maintain my calm.

It was difficult with my heart beating fast in my chest, banging around in my ribcage like a trapped bird. My blood began to heat, spreading into my cheeks as Xiphrus's eyes searched my face. He reached up, brushing a finger across my brow to wipe free a drop of sweat.

"You know," Xiphrus murmured, voice dropping to a husky purr, "Your skin is so pale, so white, like the snow in the north, that your blood is visible through your skin. It turns you a nice shade of pink. Almost like your eyes." I said nothing, just stared at him, trying to keep up with everything going on. Xiphrus had never seduced me before. He frequently complimented me, kissed me all over my face, teased me, even made outrageously private inquiries, but never had he done this before.

Never had his voice gone this low, this sensual. His eyes never gleamed the way they did now. And the way he'd wrestled me to the ground wasn't the way he normally did. He was rough about it now, kept his arms on either side of me, like barriers to keep me trapped beneath him, and my breath left me in a low rush that made Xiphrus's tongue dart out to sweep across his bottom lip.

My heart hurt. It was beating so hard, so fast. I could only hear the sound of it beating in my ears, watching as Xiphrus leaned down slowly toward my face, his lips parting. Until they connected to mine and while Xiphrus had kissed me plenty upon the lips, this was not like his other kisses. This one involved his tongue dipping between my shocked lips to delve into my mouth. Immediately, a sinful moan slipped past my defenses and I felt lightheaded, dizzy.

His tongue was a tool of utter destruction to my rationality and logic. My brain felt numb and fuzzy, shutting down so that the only thing I could focus on was the sensation of that tongue tracing a path through my mouth, sliding over teeth and dipping into curves. It was hot, wet, intense. My body trembled with the force of it, my body growing hot and heavy, the mass of arousal dipping low into my gut and heating my groin.

Xiphrus lifted his hand, cupping the side of my face, his palm a massive paw really. His body lowered on top of mine, a heavy comfortable weight that stole my breath in a gasp. His rock hard muscles rippled and bulged with raw masculine power, fitting strangely well with my lean body. I felt a hard bulge grind against mine, a slow rotation of his hips and I gasped, breaking our kiss.

"Do you feel me, Joxeia?" Xiphrus whispered against my lips, brushing his thumb over my cheekbone and I sighed, still feeling strangely dreamy about the whole situation. It was as if my brain had stopped functioning in the logical sense and was only focusing on sensations. The feeling of his hot heavy body on top of mine, his hips pushing against mine, his hand on my face, his hot breath against my lips, and those sharp intelligent blue eyes boring into mine.

I felt... like I was floating. It was different from the sensation I got when I ran. When I ran, I was flying. Now, I felt an odd combination of weightlessness and heaviness, yet like I was floating in the air above us, open and raw to the feelings around me.

Xiphrus was touching more than just my body. He was touching my soul. Stroking it, coaxing it, crooning. And it responded with a desperate moan of encouragement.

Xiphrus's mouth found my own again and my arms moved on their own accord, encircling Xiphrus's neck, pulling him closer, mushing our lips together harder, parting them to let tongues free to do their erotic dance. Xiphrus moved his hand, sifting it through my hair and sliding it from the tie that he tossed aside so he could entangle his fingers in it. A purr of satisfaction rose up in my throat at the feel of his fingers massaging my scalp, stroking my hair as if it were something precious.

"Joxeia," Xiphrus said softly, drawing his lips back and leaving me wanting more, "How do you feel right now?" I blinked slowly, trying to seek a logical answer to him, but my brain felt fuzzy, so I simply tilted my head up to nip at his chin.

"Hot." My voice sounded so strange, so foreign, and distant. It was a deep husky purr that made Xiphrus's eyes darken, becoming hooded with hunger as he leaned down once again to connect our lips. This time, he began to move his hips again and I moaned, arching my back into it, savoring the pressure against my cock. I dropped a hand down his back, suddenly disgusted with the clothing hiding that hot caramel skin, those tight muscles.

I tore his shirt up and pulled it off over his head, tossing it aside so I could run my hands up and down his back, savoring the rippling cords of muscles. Xiphrus smiled against my lips, nipped at me with his fangs. Somehow, he was taking charge of the kiss, his tongue becoming a dominate force in my mouth, his fangs scraping my bottom lip.

He slid a hand down to the bottom of my shirt, pulling it up and up, but not quite off. He pushed it up until it bunched just above my chest, and he swept his hand across my pectorals, thumb pausing to rub at my nipples. I hissed out a breath, then sighed as he found a smooth rhythm.

"Do you like this, Joxeia? Do you like feeling me touch you like this? Do you like feeling like this?" He murmured. I nodded absentmindedly, too entranced by the pleasure coursing through my veins like an insistent heat. Xiphrus drew his lips away from mine, much to my frustration, but only so he could sit up on top of me, not quite putting all his weight down on top of me. He licked his lips, swollen from kissing, and made them shine before he dipped his head down to my chest, latching onto one of my nipples.

Confusion spiked for only a moment before his lips worked around the hard nub and I moaned, drawing a leg up alongside Xiphrus, my hands finding his hair and delving into the darkness, pulling his tie free and letting it fall to the sand. Xiphrus worked his mouth around the tender flesh, tongue lashing me until he began a soft descent down over my abdomen, kissing the hard tight muscles there, gliding down to my navel to the waistband of my pants, which he began to work down with his teeth in front, his fingers on the sides.

The sand was certainly a discomfort, I realized in disgust as it ground into my bare skin, and I hissed when Xiphrus managed to pull my pants all the way down my legs, tossing them in the water that licked toward us on the shore. A dark shadow fell over me and I blinked, tilting my head back up to see Xiphrus leering over top of me, his hand sliding along my leg until he had my thigh tightly grasped in his palm... too tightly. It hurt. I could already see the bruising beneath his fingers.

"How does it feel, Joxeia," Xiphrus murmured, reaching down to cup my cheek with his other hand, "How does it feel to be beneath me?" I stared at him as a strange voice echoed in the back of my mind, and I froze as I quickly recalled similar words.

"I simply toy with the fantasy of you taking him."

Atlan. Atlan had discussed this very situation with Xiphrus.

And the thought of Atlan quickly quelled any desires I had. It was like an immediate halt on my physical reactions as my body became cold and my cock wilted.

"Get off me," I said, unsure how I kept my voice from trembling. Xiphrus's blue eyes flashed and he instantly frowned. His handsome face became a twisted annoyance that he emphasized by, not releasing me, but rather tightening his grip on my thigh, his other hand moving to place over my throat, but I dared not bat a lash at his attempt to dominate me with fear.

"Do not speak to me like that," Xiphrus said coldly, giving my throat a warning squeeze that I ignored, "I am not one of your ignorant creations. I will not be spoken to with disrespect."

"Release me or I will hurt you, Xiphrus."

"What can you do to me," Xiphrus sneered suddenly, and I felt his fingernails heat and elongate, pain puncturing the flesh of my thigh as his claws formed, and I felt those same claws on his other hand slid along my throat, drawing hairlines of blood, "Why do you deny me when you clearly desire me? Were you not asking me for more just a moment ago? Were you not fully prepared to spread your legs and take me into your body?" I froze at his words and it was only now that I realized how right he was, a chill creeping into my very bones. I looked down at my position. I was on my back in the sand, shirt pushed up to my chin, pants swallowed by the lake, my legs spread open so Xiphrus was nestled neatly in between them, one hand grasping my thigh, the other my throat, and his pants were pushed down so his monstrous erection stuck out free in the air, oozing at the tip.

The horror of my actions suddenly stole my breath away and I was unable to speak as I lifted my eyes to meet Xiphrus's, and he glared down at me, those pale blues becoming a brilliant gold.

"How dare you seduce me and turn me away," Xiphrus's voice sounded distorted now, angry and rumbling with menace, "You were pawing at me, begging me to take you and now you think you can turn me away? You think you can toy with me like this?" I swallowed.

"Xiphrus, let me go. If you do not, I will hurt you. I am warning you."

"And let me warn you," Xiphrus snarled, squeezing hard on my throat now, causing my last breath to escape with a gasp and the rest to clog beneath his grasp, "I am not your pet, Joxeia. I am not your slave. I am so far above you. My mind is free and clear, my heart is pure, and my love for Atlan still has not died and being forced to smile at you these past few days has disgusted me to my core. I wish nothing more than to squeeze the life from you, but it would only anger Atlan and I would do nothing to hurt him." I felt even more dizzy than I had earlier, and instead of feeling dreamy over it, I felt panicked. My lungs squeezed and tightened for air, my throat bruised and closing up tight.

"He wants you," Xiphrus said through clenched teeth, eyes blazing as if the very idea of it infuriated him, "He wants you to submit to him. You see, dear brother mine, you are not the ultimate power in this universe. No matter what the Source has said unto you in your dreams. You are weak. You are ignorant. You are sheltered by lies. Atlan seeks not to harm you, but to teach you. And as a student, you are to bow before him and accept his wisdom." He released my throat and rush of air came into my lungs so fast, I coughed, gasping for breath.

Xiphrus's hand went to my cheek, stroking it gently as he tilted his head, eyes narrowing as if he were admiring his work.

"I am sure he will treat you kindly, as he does me. I am his most loyal lover. I always will be. You will be his most loyal pet in time. All you need to do is submit. Open yourself up to him as you have done for me now and you will have no issue. He will reward you greatly, believe me." A shudder wracked me.

I was wrong.

I was completely and utterly wrong.

Xiphrus had never come back. He'd never returned to normal. He'd simply tolerated us, bought his time until he could have me alone, and so he could convince me of Atlan's plans once more. He used me, used my weakness against me, to force me into submission, the same way Atlan had done with him. None of Xiphrus's touch was real, none of it was gentle or loving. It was bitter resignation to a lord who wanted not just Xiphrus as his pet, but myself as well.

The Xiphrus I had grown up with, had loved, had cherished, was gone. There was no part of the creature before me that was my Xiphrus. He was cold, he was mindless, and he was a monster. There was no more playful gleam in those eyes, no more silly jokes, no more little kisses on my face, no more games, no more light festivals.

That Xiphrus was dead.

Gone completely.

Replaced with this dark, cold, angry slave of Atlan's. It was now that I realized that Atlan's method of manipulation was flawless. He'd nearly tricked me, had completely overtaken Xiphrus, and had probably done so to many more. His manipulation wasn't magic; it was simple psychology. Simple words that coaxed and brainwashed. He chose his words carefully.

He said things that made his victims think it was their idea, think it was their freedom making their choices of them, when in actuality, it was Atlan who was forcing them to do what he wished. His art of the word was perfect. His articulation was spot on, his sincerity practiced well, his heart not even his own. He was a combination of everything he encountered. He stole pieces from everyone he met and used it to his advantage.

He was a master.

A master of ruination, of manipulation, of heart and soul. And he ruled it all with an iron fist and a blood filled goblet of his victims.

And now Xiphrus was under his spell. A spell that no amount of magic could break. Xiphrus's resolve was solidified and he was prepared to hurt me in order to please Atlan. If it came down to it, if Atlan told Xiphrus to kill me, Xiphrus would do it without hesitation. Unfortunately, Atlan appeared to want me for something. His slimy compliments were hiding something much bigger, his so-called plan for the universe.

A plan that would not come to fruition if I had anything to say about it.

Something inside me shut down. It felt as if a great wall had fallen down between myself and the rest of the universe. Everything that had been jumbled and confused and scattered inside me clicked together, and I instantly became calm. My emotions were pushed to the back behind the wall and logical reality settled in its place. My expression fell into its stoic pattern and I stared at Xiphrus flatly.

"Oh yes," I said slowly, watching Xiphrus instantly frown, as if he too sensed the change that was coursing through my veins, "The idea of becoming an insect trapped in a jar fuels my urge to join Atlan's brigade of blasphemers. After all, your Atlan is correct, Xiphrus. We do have freedom, we do have free will, and it is with that freedom that I disown you. It is with that freedom that I cast you out of Paradise and into damnation. It is with that freedom that I will make it my eternal purpose to keep you locked in that jar with your Atlan."

Xiphrus's eyes widened slowly and he fell back from me, his breath coming in horrified gasps. He blinked rapidly, those gold eyes glimmering with tears. I stood up slowly so I was standing before him, and I drew my hand up in front of me and brought it down, dressing myself in a new pair of black pants and a black sleeveless top, tall buckled boots sinking into the sand and leaving massive imprints.

"Run away, Xiphrus," I said coldly, "Run away and tell your Atlan that I have denied his gracious offer to become part of his personal harem. For my purpose is not in his bed, but above his grave and yours."

"Joxeia, don't you care--"

"Shut up," my voice was a sharp cold interruption that made Xiphrus fall silent, but now he was glaring, now he was trembling with rage, "You are banished from our home and you are banished from our Paradise and you are banished from the heart of the Source."

"By whose word?!" Xiphrus snarled, shooting to his feet and drawing close to invade my personal space, but I met his glare with a calm stare.

"Mine," I replied, "And it is by my word that Atlan has now declared war upon the Source and war upon its creations. As a weapon of the Source, it is my duty to protect it and its creatures."

"You can't do this," Xiphrus said angrily, reaching for me, but I vanished and reappeared behind him, watching him spin around to face me furiously.

"I shall do as I will. Be gone, before I rip your limbs from your body and leave you to crawl back to Atlan like the worm that you are," I responded. Xiphrus blinked several times, as if he were having difficulty coping with what was happening. I allowed him a few moments to come to terms with what I'd done. The emotional pocket inside me was screaming, but I held it under lock and key as Xiphrus searched my face, and slowly those eyes darkened with hatred and he turned to face me fully.

"You're going to regret this, Joxeia. You're going to regret becoming his enemy."

"Not yours?"

"His will is my will."

"And his will be undone."

"Damn you," Xiphrus snarled, then pursed his lips hard, and for a moment, sorrow flickered across his face before he returned to anger, "Damn you!" Without another word, he vanished, leaving me to stand there alone on the trail, staring at the place where he'd been standing, then at the place in the sand where the indents of our bodies still lay, growing cold. The water from the lake rushed up like hands desperate to erase what had been left behind, sucking the sand and smoothing it out.

As if Xiphrus and I had never been there.

I lifted my eyes to stare toward the sun, watching the blue sky shift and darken, clouds forming out of nowhere, clouding the blue until it was gone, hidden behind a black layer of thick thunder clouds that growled. Lightning lit the sky up between the clouds, fading away. A drop of rain sailed down and landed in the lake.

One by one, more drops fell into the lake, fell to the sand, slid down my body, until I stood there, soaking wet, staring up at the sky.

It was time to stop thinking with my heart. It was time to stop hoping Xiphrus would return to who he was. It was time to take action and do what I was created to do.

Protect the Source. Protect its creatures and protect its lands.

For I am Joxeia, Demon of Creation.