Darkness Rising
Fourth installment in the saga beginning with Darkness and continued in Darkness Falling.
Thanks to Maderr for inspiration for the opening scene and Nikery for laughing at my stupid attempts at humor. ^^
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It was a pleasant evening. The sun had set not long ago in a brilliant display of fire in the sky and was now nothing more than the faintest memory on the western horizon. Now the night birds were beginning to stir, their sweet voices singing back and forth to one another through the deepening twilight.
"Do you have to pick the highest bloody tower in the entire bloody castle to hide on?"
Karai turned, already smirking, to greet the resident ill-tempered vampire. "Good evening, Oliae," he said sweetly. "You sound a bit testy. I don't believe you got enough sleep today."
Oliae scowled, running a hand through his slightly mussed blond hair in an attempt at getting it to behave. His jacket was somewhat crooked and he looked adorably sleep-rumpled. Not that Karai would dare tell him that.
"And just whose fault is it if I didn't?" Oliae snapped, fighting a yawn. "Stupid bird..."
Karai put on the most innocent expression he could manage. "Funny, I didn't hear you complaining this morning... quite the opposite in fact. I believe your exact words were 'More Karai, please, har-'"
The rest of the raven god's words were lost as Oliae snarled and grabbed him, throwing him forcibly off the edge of the tall tower.
The peace of the night was broken by an enraged shriek and the flapping of heavy wings. Lucien looked up in time to see the raven god Karai right himself in midair, wings beating rapidly before he swiftly ascended toward the top of the high tower he tended to frequent.
"That's it, vampire," Karai screeched, "Now you pay!"
Oliae's response, for it could only be he as no one else would dare piss off Karai, was muffled by the distance and the wind. Lucien thought he caught at least one profane word in there, though he couldn't be sure.
He shook his head. Adjusting to life in Ciaran's castle certainly hadn't been dull. Between Oliae and Karai's constant bickering, the harpy that seemed to have an obsession with his hair, the witch and succubus he kept catching making out in the hallways, the hellhound that tried to bite him every time he got too close, and the werewolf that seemed to have an ongoing vendetta against him... how could it get dull?
Then there was Ciaran's near-obsession with flying. Apparently, years ago, one of the witches had given him an enchanted broomstick. Nowadays barely a night went by during which Ciaran couldn't be found zooming around the sky playing games with anything capable of flight.
At the moment it was the large black dragon that had taken up residence in the north tower. Lucien had already had to duck twice as they swooped overhead, Ciaran's laughter ringing out in night. He smiled. Before coming here, he'd never have believed he'd see a Dark Lord playing tag on a broomstick with a dragon. If someone had suggested such a thing was even possible, he'd have laughed in their face.
Then he'd met Ciaran, and the world had realigned itself accordingly.
A shadow interspersed itself between Lucien and the moon, resolving itself quickly into a certain raven god who dropped down beside him with a muffled thump. Lucien turned to regard him for a moment, smiling faintly.
"Fighting with Oliae again?" he asked, bemused.
Karai scowled. "He threw me off the tower."
Lucien raised a brow. "What'd you say to him?"
The raven god glanced away. If not for the darkness of his skin and the lack of light, Lucien would almost swear he was blushing. "Never mind," Karai muttered.
Lucien smirked, but let it go. He wasn't suicidal any more, and taunting Karai seemed like a very good way to get oneself killed. Unless you were Oliae, in which case you only ended up with enforced celibacy for a week and birds following you wherever you went nesting in your hair and picking at your clothes. He was very glad he wasn't Oliae.
They both ducked as first Ciaran, then the dragon went swooping by, Karai shaking his head slightly. "I will never understand the appeal of zooming around the sky on a stick with straw attached to it."
Lucien laughed. "Oh, I'm certain it's quite appealing to those of us who don't naturally have wings, Karai," he pointed out, "Though personally I prefer to keep my feet on the ground."
"You have no idea what you are missing," Karai observed, his feathers rustling in the darkness as he resettled them.
Lucien smiled. "You could go play with them, you know."
"Not tonight," Karai replied, glancing up briefly at the high tower and scowling. "Though, if you feel up to it, I would not say no to a round or two."
With a laugh, Lucien gestured for Karai to precede him. "Lead on, oh he who needs to work out some aggression."
Karai snorted, but headed inside and through the maze of hallways that would eventually put them in the wide room they'd converted for their sparring matches. While Ciaran had initially been hesitant about the idea, he'd quickly changed his mind the first time Lucien and Karai had stripped down to the essentials. He hadn't even let Lucien wash the sweat off before dragging the Hunter back to their room.
Lucien tossed his shirt aside once they were clear of the door. "Weapons, or no?" he inquired calmly, feeling the old anticipation rise up in him at the prospect of a challenging fight.
"None today," Karai returned, stripping off his own clothing until he was left in nothing but a pair of thin silk pants. "I happen to like having the advantage."
Lucien snorted. "Just because you have a longer reach does not mean you have the advantage," he retorted.
Karai smirked. "We shall see about that, mortal," he cooed, launching himself at Lucien without preamble.
He deflected the initial blow easily, ducking under Karai's arm and spinning gracefully around behind the raven god, striking out with one fist. They'd done this enough times now that Lucien had gotten accustomed to Karai's speed, and now it came down to a simple matter of skill.
Lucien had more of that, though Karai was crafty enough that he'd managed to pick up on most of Lucien's favorite moves. The former Hunter had been forced to start creating new movements, new ways to attack and defend, simply because his favorite sparring partner kept figuring out how to counter the old ones.
It was said experience was the best teacher a man could have. Lucien had decided that wasn't quite accurate. Experience was good, but trying to keep your head attached to your body while dodging a sexually-frustrated fallen raven god was something else entirely.
Especially when the aforementioned former god's lover had done a very good job of pissing him off earlier in the evening.
They were both panting when at last they called a truce, sweat clinging to their bodies in a thin sheen. Lucien dunked his head in the bucket of water sitting a few paces away from the door, then grabbed two towels off a slightly-dingy gold rack and threw one at Karai.
"Feeling any better?" he asked.
The raven god caught the towel neatly and patted his face with it. "Much," he replied. "While I was initially hesitant about your inclusion in our menagerie, I have to admit that I rather enjoy attempting to kill you."
Lucien laughed. "Feeling's mutual, Karai."
Karai smirked, walking slowly in a large, uneven circle as he allowed his muscles to cool down. Such a thing had not been necessary when he'd still been a god, but times had changed.
"So, how many times has someone attempted to kill you since we last spoke?" Karai asked after a moment, pausing to stretch his arms above his head.
Lucien grinned. "Including you? Mmm, three, I think."
Karai glanced over at him and sighed. "Well, I suppose that's better than the five from before, though really, they should not be disobeying the Master's orders like that."
Lucien shrugged. "They're scared, Karai. I can't really blame them. And I'm not in any real danger, so there's nothing to worry about."
"Unless one of those with true power decides to get involved," Karai observed darkly.
"Karai," Lucien said, mildly exasperated, "I'm a Demon Hunter. Ciaran is the only thing here that would give me any trouble at all."
Karai was silent for a long moment, regarding him evenly. "Trouble?" he said at last, "No, I think not. Were Master Ciaran to truly unleash his power, you would be as an unfledged nestling before a great dragon."
Lucien met his gaze, sapphire eyes dark and contemplative. "You've said something to that effect before, Karai, but no one has ever elaborated... How powerful is he? I know he's half human, but he's never mentioned just what the other half is."
"Honestly?" Karai retrieved his shirt and cloak from where he'd dropped them, draping them casually over one arm. "I don't know. I don't think he knows. When I came here..." He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, remembering. "I'd been wandering, aimlessly, going wherever the winds would take me. Then one day I suddenly felt a power such as I had never encountered before. When I followed it back to the source, I found myself here."
He spread his hands out. "Everyone with the touch of darkness in them can feel the Master's power, though there are few of us who can sense the hidden strength of it. If I had to guess, I would say it has the particular taint of demon magic, but..." Karai frowned. "No demon I have ever encountered or even heard about has possessed even a fraction of the power that Master Ciaran keeps banked. Even Lord Vennois, who was long considered to be the greatest demon on earth, was powerless against him."
Lucien frowned thoughtfully, pacing back and forth as he mulled over Karai's words. "Vennois was a demon, and here on earth humans termed him a demon lord for his strength, but that's not exactly right... Demons themselves are very particular about who they deem Lord. The Seven Lords of Darkness..."
"Never leave the Dark Realms," Karai finished, shaking his head. "They cannot. Their power is bound to that place. They cannot leave it."
Lucien shrugged. "It was a thought. You said he 'felt' like a demon, so I figured..."
Karai shook his head again. "I considered that myself long ago, but there is no way for one of the Seven to have ever encountered a mortal woman. My powers are far diminished. It is more likely that I am simply not as skilled as I once was in the reading of others."
Lucien grimaced, then smiled wryly. "So in other words, I have a very powerful, completely unknown being for a lover who may or may not have demon parentage but nobody knows for certain and the end result being I should do everything possible to make sure he stays very happy for a very long time."
"You can start right now," a lilting voice announced from the doorway. Both Lucien and Karai started silently, looking up to see Ciaran watching them in amusement.
"Did you have anything particular in mind?" Lucien asked, grinning a bit sheepishly as he fetched his shirt from where he'd dropped it.
"Yes," Ciaran announced firmly. "For one, you can put that shirt back down and come kiss me."
Laughing, Lucien crossed the sandy floor to sweep the slender redhead into his arms and kiss him breathless.
He awoke all at once, as was his habit, and frowned. It was still the middle of the day. Something had to have awoken him. He held perfectly still, waiting, and it came again. A quiet, though urgent knocking at the door.
Lucien sat up slowly, Ciaran's arm sliding down his chest from where it had been resting. His sleeping lover gave a soft murmur, but did not wake. Lucien smiled softly, brushing a finger gently over Ciaran's cheek before dropping his hand and calling out quietly, "Enter."
The door swung open and Karai entered, glancing swiftly around the room until spotting Lucien sitting up in bed. He blinked.
Lucien hid a laugh and smiled instead, beckoning the raven god closer. "Sleeping," he murmured once Karai was within range. "Up late. What's wrong?"
Though Karai's gaze softened slightly at the sight of his slumbering Master, it did not erase the worry in his dark eyes. "Hunter in the castle again," he returned, keeping his voice pitched low so as not to awaken Ciaran. "Skilled. Not like you, but... I would be wary of taking him on myself without the Master's magic."
Lucien glanced thoughtfully down at the untidy mass of red hair spread out across a pillow and part of his arm, then slowly back up to Karai. "Not like me, hmm? Why Karai, I do believe you just gave me a compliment."
The raven god scowled, his expression shifting into one of confusion as Lucien carefully disentangled himself from the sleeping Ciaran. He turned away quickly as Lucien slipped out of bed, staring at the far wall rather than watch as the former Hunter retrieved and donned his clothing. Again, Lucien had to bite back a laugh. Considering the fact that they tended to spar half-dressed at best and what he knew Karai got up to with Oliae, one would think that a little nudity wouldn't bother him. But then, this was Karai.
"Out," Lucien murmured once he was fully dressed, leading the way and closing the door behind them as Karai followed.
"What are you up to?" the raven god asked, frowning as he eyed a few of the more obvious places where Lucien's weapons were strapped.
Lucien shrugged. "You said he wasn't in my class, so there shouldn't be a problem if I deal with him instead of one of you, right?"
Karai stared at him. "Are you mad? He could kill you. Do you have any idea how much trouble I would be in with my Master if I allowed you to come to harm?"
Lucien laughed, unable to restrain it any longer. "Karai, I'll be fine. I was a Demon Hunter, the strongest Hunter there is. Even my so-called peers couldn't beat me. One foolish Hunter who's wandered in where he shouldn't won't pose any problem. Trust me."
Though Karai scowled, he couldn't really argue. They both knew it to be true. Instead he turned and stalked stiffly down the hall, his feathers standing on end to convey his annoyance. It was times like these that Lucien could really understand and empathize with Oliae's constant need to needle the fallen god. Karai just made it far too easy.
They'd made it down the staircase to the first floor before Karai stopped, turning and regarding him with the particular tilt of his head and narrowing of his eyes that was usually directed at Oliae when the vampire was being particularly annoying. "You don't have to do this, you know," he stated flatly. "Usually when we get particularly... persistent Hunters, my Master simply throws them out and moves the castle elsewhere so that they cannot immediately return."
Feeling like he was flirting with fire, Lucien reached up and clasped a friendly hand to the raven god's shoulder. "You know, if I didn't know better," he observed, "I might think you were actually worried about me, Karai."
Sniffing disdainfully, Karai slid out from under the hand and crossed his arms. "Hardly," he retorted. "Why should I care about what happens to an idiotic, insignificant mortal? My only concern is that of my Master's. Nothing more."
Lucien smirked. "Of course. Watch my back, Karai, just in case, okay?"
The raven god regarded him sullenly for a long moment, then muttered quietly, "Fine, just be careful."
Laughing, Lucien turned and shoved open the wide double doors that led out into one of the small inner courtyards. This particular one featured a wide stone fountain of a simple design. It had been dry for as long as Lucien had been there and frequently collected leaves, dust, and other random things that blew in with the winds.
The Hunter was immediately evident, being the only spot of color in the otherwise bleak courtyard in his red and black ensemble. Lucien immediately deducted several points from the man's score for being a walking target. His own Hunting gear consisted of grey and brown leathers in varying shades. Nothing particularly bright or interesting. The harder it was for your opponent to see you, the easier it was not to get hit.
Lucien's boots made little noise even on the hard cobblestones as he slipped back into the familiar feel of a Hunter stalking its prey. Odd, to think of another Hunter thus.
"Ho there," he called amiably, far too amused when the man started in surprise, though he did get points for drawing his blade before even turning. "Are you lost?" Lucien continued, putting a hint of mocking in his voice.
"Demon," the Hunter hissed, charging him. Lucien arched a brow and danced out of the way of the sharp blade, drawing his own in the process. Demon? That was rather rude. He didn't look at all like a demon. Of course, neither did Ciaran, but that was neither here nor there.
He countered the next strike, noting idly the way it felt as though he were fighting in slow motion when compared with his duels with Karai. Still, the man had no small amount of skill. He analyzed each thrust even as he countered them, eyes making careful note of the places his opponent's free hand strayed toward each time his weapon was turned aside. Not unprepared either, this one.
In fact, the way he moved was oddly familiar. They exchanged several more blows while Lucien attempted to puzzle it out and subtly removed the Hunter's backup weaponry in the process. A few nasty little surprises there and his esteem rose another notch. Some of those had almost been worthy of him.
Finally he was fairly certain he had the man down to nothing more than his primary sword and one dagger, sidestepping and flipping backwards out of the way before holding up a hand.
"Who are you, Hunter?" he demanded. "Your name."
The Hunter paused, though did not lower his guard in the least. He seemed to consider the request, then straightened just enough to put them on even height without giving up his defensive position. "I am Sheridan Lacroix, murderer, and by the blood of my family spilled by your hand, I swear you will pay for your misdeeds!" he spat.
Lucien blinked. Lacroix? As in his Lacroix? Well, that would explain why it felt like he was fighting his brother. The fighting style was very similar. Though he didn't remember his brother's child being named Sheridan...
He had only just time enough to dodge again as Sheridan took advantage of his dizzying thoughts to redouble his attack. Lucien frowned, twisting out of the way of Sheridan's blade before stopping short and driving his fist harshly into the man's gut. He stepped back and dusted off his hands while his opponent wheezed in pain.
"By the blood of my family indeed," Lucien snorted. "You've obviously been hanging around vampires too long if you think that's acceptable battle language." He picked up Sheridan's sword from where the man had dropped it after having the wind summarily knocked out of him and tossed it away calmly. "As for blood being spilled, you've obviously been misinformed. I knew I should have at least let René know what happened."
The Hunter looked up through tears of pain to give him a startled look. "René?" he repeated. "Grandfather René?"
Lucien felt like he'd been kicked, though Sheridan was still several feet away. "Grandfather?" he echoed. "You're..."
Sheridan eyed him oddly for a long moment, slowly straightening from where he'd been hunched over. "........ who are you?" he asked finally.
"Lucien," Lucien answered, a wry smile on his face. "Lucien Lacroix."
"Impossible," Sheridan spat. "Lucien Lacroix died almost fifty years ago."
"Not exactly," Lucien murmured thoughtfully, "Though I suppose you could say I was defeated..." He laughed suddenly. "Now I know how Ciaran felt when I told him how long it had been. This castle really does do strange things to time."
He laughed again at the peculiar expression Sheridan was giving him. "It's a long story, really," he told his grand-nephew. "But if you really want proof of my identity, please, come at me again. There's no creature on this earth, mortal or immortal, that has defeated Lucien Lacroix." Lucien hefted his blade with a grin.
Sheridan stared at him for a long moment, then reluctantly lowered his guard. "You were holding back, weren't you?" he accused.
Lucien laughed again. "Was I that obvious?" He grinned. "We usually try to kick Hunters out without actually harming them. It's trickier than it might sound."
The Hunter scowled darkly, looking remarkably like Karai when he was trying not to sulk. "If you're Lucien Lacroix, then I shouldn't feel quite so stupid for getting my ass handed to me, but..."
"But I just wounded your pride and now you're sulking," Lucien announced cheerfully, ducking the short dagger that Sheridan hurled at him in retaliation. "Temper, temper..." he scolded.
"Has anyone ever told you you're an ass?" Sheridan asked, glaring.
Lucien's brows went up. "Karai. About daily. Apparently you haven't met him yet."
"So it runs in your family, I see," Karai observed, gliding down from where he'd been watching from a rampart. "And here I thought you were just uniquely gifted."
Lucien snorted. "Sheridan, meet Karai. Karai, shut up."
The raven god smirked, then laughed at the expression on Sheridan's face. "Temper, temper, little one... You are in the presence of a god."
"Former god," Lucien pointed out.
Karai snorted. "Semantics."
Sheridan eyed them both like they were completely out of their minds. "You do realize you're both insane, right?"
"Sanity is relative," a new voice spoke up and all three turned to watch Ciaran as the redhead, dressed but still looking rather sleepy, crossed the wide stone courtyard to join them. He stopped at Lucien's side, snuggling up next to him and closing his eyes. "You should have woken me," he chided gently. "I like watching you fight."
Lucien smiled and stole a brief kiss. "Sheridan, meet Ciaran." He paused, then smirked as he added, "This would be the great and powerful Dark Lord that rules this castle."
"You're kidding," Sheridan responded flatly.
"He's more intimidating when he's awake?" Lucien offered.
"There is something seriously weird about this castle," Sheridan muttered.
Karai snorted. "So you finally noticed," he observed dryly. Sheridan ignored him.
"So, if you're not dead, and the dark lord is... isn't, then..."
"Just go home," Lucien said with a shrug. "There are plenty of true Dark Lords out there for you to fight if you really want to. Trust me, it gets old after a while."
Sheridan still looked doubtful. Lucien sighed. "Look, if it will make you feel better, I'll make you a deal. You let people know to avoid this castle, and I'll make a promise to lend my aid to you and any of the Lacroix line who should come seeking it. Will that work?"
There was a long moment of hesitation, then slowly Sheridan nodded. "All right," he said carefully, "I can live with that."
With a soft laugh, Ciaran reached out and placed something in Sheridan's hand. The Hunter blinked, then looked at it blankly. "What's this?" he asked, eyeing the small jeweled pendant.
"It will lead you or one of your bloodline to my castle, wherever it may be," Ciaran answered. "I move it around every now and then to get a change of scenery."
Sheridan nodded slowly, tucking the pendant away in a pocket. He regarded them all for a moment longer, then shook his head and turned away, heading back the way he'd come toward the exit to the castle.
Lucien watched him leave, then looked down at Ciaran. "Sorry," he murmured. "I guess I should have asked first..."
Ciaran smiled. "I do not mind. They are your family."
"Yeah..." Lucien said slowly, looking back up at the door through which Sheridan had exited. "My family... my grand-nephew..."
Ciaran's grey eyes clouded with a touch of sadness. "Lucien..." he asked quietly, "Are you sorry you decided to stay, here in this place that time passes by?"
Lucien shook his head slowly, giving Ciaran a faint smile. "No. Time may pass me by, but I would rather be here than anywhere else. You are my greatest joy in life, Ciaran. Without you, there would be no point in living."
"I think you underestimate your own value," Ciaran murmured, pulling him down, "But I am most certainly not going to argue if it keeps you here, with me." Their lips met, hot and needy and reaffirming what they already knew. That each filled a void within the other in a way that made them complete.
Karai sighed. "At least go back to your room before you decide to do that," he muttered, spreading his wings and flying off to go see if he could get a certain vampire to pay attention to him while the sun was still in the sky.
Probably not, but it was worth a shot.
Thanks to Maderr for inspiration for the opening scene and Nikery for laughing at my stupid attempts at humor. ^^
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It was a pleasant evening. The sun had set not long ago in a brilliant display of fire in the sky and was now nothing more than the faintest memory on the western horizon. Now the night birds were beginning to stir, their sweet voices singing back and forth to one another through the deepening twilight.
"Do you have to pick the highest bloody tower in the entire bloody castle to hide on?"
Karai turned, already smirking, to greet the resident ill-tempered vampire. "Good evening, Oliae," he said sweetly. "You sound a bit testy. I don't believe you got enough sleep today."
Oliae scowled, running a hand through his slightly mussed blond hair in an attempt at getting it to behave. His jacket was somewhat crooked and he looked adorably sleep-rumpled. Not that Karai would dare tell him that.
"And just whose fault is it if I didn't?" Oliae snapped, fighting a yawn. "Stupid bird..."
Karai put on the most innocent expression he could manage. "Funny, I didn't hear you complaining this morning... quite the opposite in fact. I believe your exact words were 'More Karai, please, har-'"
The rest of the raven god's words were lost as Oliae snarled and grabbed him, throwing him forcibly off the edge of the tall tower.
The peace of the night was broken by an enraged shriek and the flapping of heavy wings. Lucien looked up in time to see the raven god Karai right himself in midair, wings beating rapidly before he swiftly ascended toward the top of the high tower he tended to frequent.
"That's it, vampire," Karai screeched, "Now you pay!"
Oliae's response, for it could only be he as no one else would dare piss off Karai, was muffled by the distance and the wind. Lucien thought he caught at least one profane word in there, though he couldn't be sure.
He shook his head. Adjusting to life in Ciaran's castle certainly hadn't been dull. Between Oliae and Karai's constant bickering, the harpy that seemed to have an obsession with his hair, the witch and succubus he kept catching making out in the hallways, the hellhound that tried to bite him every time he got too close, and the werewolf that seemed to have an ongoing vendetta against him... how could it get dull?
Then there was Ciaran's near-obsession with flying. Apparently, years ago, one of the witches had given him an enchanted broomstick. Nowadays barely a night went by during which Ciaran couldn't be found zooming around the sky playing games with anything capable of flight.
At the moment it was the large black dragon that had taken up residence in the north tower. Lucien had already had to duck twice as they swooped overhead, Ciaran's laughter ringing out in night. He smiled. Before coming here, he'd never have believed he'd see a Dark Lord playing tag on a broomstick with a dragon. If someone had suggested such a thing was even possible, he'd have laughed in their face.
Then he'd met Ciaran, and the world had realigned itself accordingly.
A shadow interspersed itself between Lucien and the moon, resolving itself quickly into a certain raven god who dropped down beside him with a muffled thump. Lucien turned to regard him for a moment, smiling faintly.
"Fighting with Oliae again?" he asked, bemused.
Karai scowled. "He threw me off the tower."
Lucien raised a brow. "What'd you say to him?"
The raven god glanced away. If not for the darkness of his skin and the lack of light, Lucien would almost swear he was blushing. "Never mind," Karai muttered.
Lucien smirked, but let it go. He wasn't suicidal any more, and taunting Karai seemed like a very good way to get oneself killed. Unless you were Oliae, in which case you only ended up with enforced celibacy for a week and birds following you wherever you went nesting in your hair and picking at your clothes. He was very glad he wasn't Oliae.
They both ducked as first Ciaran, then the dragon went swooping by, Karai shaking his head slightly. "I will never understand the appeal of zooming around the sky on a stick with straw attached to it."
Lucien laughed. "Oh, I'm certain it's quite appealing to those of us who don't naturally have wings, Karai," he pointed out, "Though personally I prefer to keep my feet on the ground."
"You have no idea what you are missing," Karai observed, his feathers rustling in the darkness as he resettled them.
Lucien smiled. "You could go play with them, you know."
"Not tonight," Karai replied, glancing up briefly at the high tower and scowling. "Though, if you feel up to it, I would not say no to a round or two."
With a laugh, Lucien gestured for Karai to precede him. "Lead on, oh he who needs to work out some aggression."
Karai snorted, but headed inside and through the maze of hallways that would eventually put them in the wide room they'd converted for their sparring matches. While Ciaran had initially been hesitant about the idea, he'd quickly changed his mind the first time Lucien and Karai had stripped down to the essentials. He hadn't even let Lucien wash the sweat off before dragging the Hunter back to their room.
Lucien tossed his shirt aside once they were clear of the door. "Weapons, or no?" he inquired calmly, feeling the old anticipation rise up in him at the prospect of a challenging fight.
"None today," Karai returned, stripping off his own clothing until he was left in nothing but a pair of thin silk pants. "I happen to like having the advantage."
Lucien snorted. "Just because you have a longer reach does not mean you have the advantage," he retorted.
Karai smirked. "We shall see about that, mortal," he cooed, launching himself at Lucien without preamble.
He deflected the initial blow easily, ducking under Karai's arm and spinning gracefully around behind the raven god, striking out with one fist. They'd done this enough times now that Lucien had gotten accustomed to Karai's speed, and now it came down to a simple matter of skill.
Lucien had more of that, though Karai was crafty enough that he'd managed to pick up on most of Lucien's favorite moves. The former Hunter had been forced to start creating new movements, new ways to attack and defend, simply because his favorite sparring partner kept figuring out how to counter the old ones.
It was said experience was the best teacher a man could have. Lucien had decided that wasn't quite accurate. Experience was good, but trying to keep your head attached to your body while dodging a sexually-frustrated fallen raven god was something else entirely.
Especially when the aforementioned former god's lover had done a very good job of pissing him off earlier in the evening.
They were both panting when at last they called a truce, sweat clinging to their bodies in a thin sheen. Lucien dunked his head in the bucket of water sitting a few paces away from the door, then grabbed two towels off a slightly-dingy gold rack and threw one at Karai.
"Feeling any better?" he asked.
The raven god caught the towel neatly and patted his face with it. "Much," he replied. "While I was initially hesitant about your inclusion in our menagerie, I have to admit that I rather enjoy attempting to kill you."
Lucien laughed. "Feeling's mutual, Karai."
Karai smirked, walking slowly in a large, uneven circle as he allowed his muscles to cool down. Such a thing had not been necessary when he'd still been a god, but times had changed.
"So, how many times has someone attempted to kill you since we last spoke?" Karai asked after a moment, pausing to stretch his arms above his head.
Lucien grinned. "Including you? Mmm, three, I think."
Karai glanced over at him and sighed. "Well, I suppose that's better than the five from before, though really, they should not be disobeying the Master's orders like that."
Lucien shrugged. "They're scared, Karai. I can't really blame them. And I'm not in any real danger, so there's nothing to worry about."
"Unless one of those with true power decides to get involved," Karai observed darkly.
"Karai," Lucien said, mildly exasperated, "I'm a Demon Hunter. Ciaran is the only thing here that would give me any trouble at all."
Karai was silent for a long moment, regarding him evenly. "Trouble?" he said at last, "No, I think not. Were Master Ciaran to truly unleash his power, you would be as an unfledged nestling before a great dragon."
Lucien met his gaze, sapphire eyes dark and contemplative. "You've said something to that effect before, Karai, but no one has ever elaborated... How powerful is he? I know he's half human, but he's never mentioned just what the other half is."
"Honestly?" Karai retrieved his shirt and cloak from where he'd dropped them, draping them casually over one arm. "I don't know. I don't think he knows. When I came here..." He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, remembering. "I'd been wandering, aimlessly, going wherever the winds would take me. Then one day I suddenly felt a power such as I had never encountered before. When I followed it back to the source, I found myself here."
He spread his hands out. "Everyone with the touch of darkness in them can feel the Master's power, though there are few of us who can sense the hidden strength of it. If I had to guess, I would say it has the particular taint of demon magic, but..." Karai frowned. "No demon I have ever encountered or even heard about has possessed even a fraction of the power that Master Ciaran keeps banked. Even Lord Vennois, who was long considered to be the greatest demon on earth, was powerless against him."
Lucien frowned thoughtfully, pacing back and forth as he mulled over Karai's words. "Vennois was a demon, and here on earth humans termed him a demon lord for his strength, but that's not exactly right... Demons themselves are very particular about who they deem Lord. The Seven Lords of Darkness..."
"Never leave the Dark Realms," Karai finished, shaking his head. "They cannot. Their power is bound to that place. They cannot leave it."
Lucien shrugged. "It was a thought. You said he 'felt' like a demon, so I figured..."
Karai shook his head again. "I considered that myself long ago, but there is no way for one of the Seven to have ever encountered a mortal woman. My powers are far diminished. It is more likely that I am simply not as skilled as I once was in the reading of others."
Lucien grimaced, then smiled wryly. "So in other words, I have a very powerful, completely unknown being for a lover who may or may not have demon parentage but nobody knows for certain and the end result being I should do everything possible to make sure he stays very happy for a very long time."
"You can start right now," a lilting voice announced from the doorway. Both Lucien and Karai started silently, looking up to see Ciaran watching them in amusement.
"Did you have anything particular in mind?" Lucien asked, grinning a bit sheepishly as he fetched his shirt from where he'd dropped it.
"Yes," Ciaran announced firmly. "For one, you can put that shirt back down and come kiss me."
Laughing, Lucien crossed the sandy floor to sweep the slender redhead into his arms and kiss him breathless.
He awoke all at once, as was his habit, and frowned. It was still the middle of the day. Something had to have awoken him. He held perfectly still, waiting, and it came again. A quiet, though urgent knocking at the door.
Lucien sat up slowly, Ciaran's arm sliding down his chest from where it had been resting. His sleeping lover gave a soft murmur, but did not wake. Lucien smiled softly, brushing a finger gently over Ciaran's cheek before dropping his hand and calling out quietly, "Enter."
The door swung open and Karai entered, glancing swiftly around the room until spotting Lucien sitting up in bed. He blinked.
Lucien hid a laugh and smiled instead, beckoning the raven god closer. "Sleeping," he murmured once Karai was within range. "Up late. What's wrong?"
Though Karai's gaze softened slightly at the sight of his slumbering Master, it did not erase the worry in his dark eyes. "Hunter in the castle again," he returned, keeping his voice pitched low so as not to awaken Ciaran. "Skilled. Not like you, but... I would be wary of taking him on myself without the Master's magic."
Lucien glanced thoughtfully down at the untidy mass of red hair spread out across a pillow and part of his arm, then slowly back up to Karai. "Not like me, hmm? Why Karai, I do believe you just gave me a compliment."
The raven god scowled, his expression shifting into one of confusion as Lucien carefully disentangled himself from the sleeping Ciaran. He turned away quickly as Lucien slipped out of bed, staring at the far wall rather than watch as the former Hunter retrieved and donned his clothing. Again, Lucien had to bite back a laugh. Considering the fact that they tended to spar half-dressed at best and what he knew Karai got up to with Oliae, one would think that a little nudity wouldn't bother him. But then, this was Karai.
"Out," Lucien murmured once he was fully dressed, leading the way and closing the door behind them as Karai followed.
"What are you up to?" the raven god asked, frowning as he eyed a few of the more obvious places where Lucien's weapons were strapped.
Lucien shrugged. "You said he wasn't in my class, so there shouldn't be a problem if I deal with him instead of one of you, right?"
Karai stared at him. "Are you mad? He could kill you. Do you have any idea how much trouble I would be in with my Master if I allowed you to come to harm?"
Lucien laughed, unable to restrain it any longer. "Karai, I'll be fine. I was a Demon Hunter, the strongest Hunter there is. Even my so-called peers couldn't beat me. One foolish Hunter who's wandered in where he shouldn't won't pose any problem. Trust me."
Though Karai scowled, he couldn't really argue. They both knew it to be true. Instead he turned and stalked stiffly down the hall, his feathers standing on end to convey his annoyance. It was times like these that Lucien could really understand and empathize with Oliae's constant need to needle the fallen god. Karai just made it far too easy.
They'd made it down the staircase to the first floor before Karai stopped, turning and regarding him with the particular tilt of his head and narrowing of his eyes that was usually directed at Oliae when the vampire was being particularly annoying. "You don't have to do this, you know," he stated flatly. "Usually when we get particularly... persistent Hunters, my Master simply throws them out and moves the castle elsewhere so that they cannot immediately return."
Feeling like he was flirting with fire, Lucien reached up and clasped a friendly hand to the raven god's shoulder. "You know, if I didn't know better," he observed, "I might think you were actually worried about me, Karai."
Sniffing disdainfully, Karai slid out from under the hand and crossed his arms. "Hardly," he retorted. "Why should I care about what happens to an idiotic, insignificant mortal? My only concern is that of my Master's. Nothing more."
Lucien smirked. "Of course. Watch my back, Karai, just in case, okay?"
The raven god regarded him sullenly for a long moment, then muttered quietly, "Fine, just be careful."
Laughing, Lucien turned and shoved open the wide double doors that led out into one of the small inner courtyards. This particular one featured a wide stone fountain of a simple design. It had been dry for as long as Lucien had been there and frequently collected leaves, dust, and other random things that blew in with the winds.
The Hunter was immediately evident, being the only spot of color in the otherwise bleak courtyard in his red and black ensemble. Lucien immediately deducted several points from the man's score for being a walking target. His own Hunting gear consisted of grey and brown leathers in varying shades. Nothing particularly bright or interesting. The harder it was for your opponent to see you, the easier it was not to get hit.
Lucien's boots made little noise even on the hard cobblestones as he slipped back into the familiar feel of a Hunter stalking its prey. Odd, to think of another Hunter thus.
"Ho there," he called amiably, far too amused when the man started in surprise, though he did get points for drawing his blade before even turning. "Are you lost?" Lucien continued, putting a hint of mocking in his voice.
"Demon," the Hunter hissed, charging him. Lucien arched a brow and danced out of the way of the sharp blade, drawing his own in the process. Demon? That was rather rude. He didn't look at all like a demon. Of course, neither did Ciaran, but that was neither here nor there.
He countered the next strike, noting idly the way it felt as though he were fighting in slow motion when compared with his duels with Karai. Still, the man had no small amount of skill. He analyzed each thrust even as he countered them, eyes making careful note of the places his opponent's free hand strayed toward each time his weapon was turned aside. Not unprepared either, this one.
In fact, the way he moved was oddly familiar. They exchanged several more blows while Lucien attempted to puzzle it out and subtly removed the Hunter's backup weaponry in the process. A few nasty little surprises there and his esteem rose another notch. Some of those had almost been worthy of him.
Finally he was fairly certain he had the man down to nothing more than his primary sword and one dagger, sidestepping and flipping backwards out of the way before holding up a hand.
"Who are you, Hunter?" he demanded. "Your name."
The Hunter paused, though did not lower his guard in the least. He seemed to consider the request, then straightened just enough to put them on even height without giving up his defensive position. "I am Sheridan Lacroix, murderer, and by the blood of my family spilled by your hand, I swear you will pay for your misdeeds!" he spat.
Lucien blinked. Lacroix? As in his Lacroix? Well, that would explain why it felt like he was fighting his brother. The fighting style was very similar. Though he didn't remember his brother's child being named Sheridan...
He had only just time enough to dodge again as Sheridan took advantage of his dizzying thoughts to redouble his attack. Lucien frowned, twisting out of the way of Sheridan's blade before stopping short and driving his fist harshly into the man's gut. He stepped back and dusted off his hands while his opponent wheezed in pain.
"By the blood of my family indeed," Lucien snorted. "You've obviously been hanging around vampires too long if you think that's acceptable battle language." He picked up Sheridan's sword from where the man had dropped it after having the wind summarily knocked out of him and tossed it away calmly. "As for blood being spilled, you've obviously been misinformed. I knew I should have at least let René know what happened."
The Hunter looked up through tears of pain to give him a startled look. "René?" he repeated. "Grandfather René?"
Lucien felt like he'd been kicked, though Sheridan was still several feet away. "Grandfather?" he echoed. "You're..."
Sheridan eyed him oddly for a long moment, slowly straightening from where he'd been hunched over. "........ who are you?" he asked finally.
"Lucien," Lucien answered, a wry smile on his face. "Lucien Lacroix."
"Impossible," Sheridan spat. "Lucien Lacroix died almost fifty years ago."
"Not exactly," Lucien murmured thoughtfully, "Though I suppose you could say I was defeated..." He laughed suddenly. "Now I know how Ciaran felt when I told him how long it had been. This castle really does do strange things to time."
He laughed again at the peculiar expression Sheridan was giving him. "It's a long story, really," he told his grand-nephew. "But if you really want proof of my identity, please, come at me again. There's no creature on this earth, mortal or immortal, that has defeated Lucien Lacroix." Lucien hefted his blade with a grin.
Sheridan stared at him for a long moment, then reluctantly lowered his guard. "You were holding back, weren't you?" he accused.
Lucien laughed again. "Was I that obvious?" He grinned. "We usually try to kick Hunters out without actually harming them. It's trickier than it might sound."
The Hunter scowled darkly, looking remarkably like Karai when he was trying not to sulk. "If you're Lucien Lacroix, then I shouldn't feel quite so stupid for getting my ass handed to me, but..."
"But I just wounded your pride and now you're sulking," Lucien announced cheerfully, ducking the short dagger that Sheridan hurled at him in retaliation. "Temper, temper..." he scolded.
"Has anyone ever told you you're an ass?" Sheridan asked, glaring.
Lucien's brows went up. "Karai. About daily. Apparently you haven't met him yet."
"So it runs in your family, I see," Karai observed, gliding down from where he'd been watching from a rampart. "And here I thought you were just uniquely gifted."
Lucien snorted. "Sheridan, meet Karai. Karai, shut up."
The raven god smirked, then laughed at the expression on Sheridan's face. "Temper, temper, little one... You are in the presence of a god."
"Former god," Lucien pointed out.
Karai snorted. "Semantics."
Sheridan eyed them both like they were completely out of their minds. "You do realize you're both insane, right?"
"Sanity is relative," a new voice spoke up and all three turned to watch Ciaran as the redhead, dressed but still looking rather sleepy, crossed the wide stone courtyard to join them. He stopped at Lucien's side, snuggling up next to him and closing his eyes. "You should have woken me," he chided gently. "I like watching you fight."
Lucien smiled and stole a brief kiss. "Sheridan, meet Ciaran." He paused, then smirked as he added, "This would be the great and powerful Dark Lord that rules this castle."
"You're kidding," Sheridan responded flatly.
"He's more intimidating when he's awake?" Lucien offered.
"There is something seriously weird about this castle," Sheridan muttered.
Karai snorted. "So you finally noticed," he observed dryly. Sheridan ignored him.
"So, if you're not dead, and the dark lord is... isn't, then..."
"Just go home," Lucien said with a shrug. "There are plenty of true Dark Lords out there for you to fight if you really want to. Trust me, it gets old after a while."
Sheridan still looked doubtful. Lucien sighed. "Look, if it will make you feel better, I'll make you a deal. You let people know to avoid this castle, and I'll make a promise to lend my aid to you and any of the Lacroix line who should come seeking it. Will that work?"
There was a long moment of hesitation, then slowly Sheridan nodded. "All right," he said carefully, "I can live with that."
With a soft laugh, Ciaran reached out and placed something in Sheridan's hand. The Hunter blinked, then looked at it blankly. "What's this?" he asked, eyeing the small jeweled pendant.
"It will lead you or one of your bloodline to my castle, wherever it may be," Ciaran answered. "I move it around every now and then to get a change of scenery."
Sheridan nodded slowly, tucking the pendant away in a pocket. He regarded them all for a moment longer, then shook his head and turned away, heading back the way he'd come toward the exit to the castle.
Lucien watched him leave, then looked down at Ciaran. "Sorry," he murmured. "I guess I should have asked first..."
Ciaran smiled. "I do not mind. They are your family."
"Yeah..." Lucien said slowly, looking back up at the door through which Sheridan had exited. "My family... my grand-nephew..."
Ciaran's grey eyes clouded with a touch of sadness. "Lucien..." he asked quietly, "Are you sorry you decided to stay, here in this place that time passes by?"
Lucien shook his head slowly, giving Ciaran a faint smile. "No. Time may pass me by, but I would rather be here than anywhere else. You are my greatest joy in life, Ciaran. Without you, there would be no point in living."
"I think you underestimate your own value," Ciaran murmured, pulling him down, "But I am most certainly not going to argue if it keeps you here, with me." Their lips met, hot and needy and reaffirming what they already knew. That each filled a void within the other in a way that made them complete.
Karai sighed. "At least go back to your room before you decide to do that," he muttered, spreading his wings and flying off to go see if he could get a certain vampire to pay attention to him while the sun was still in the sky.
Probably not, but it was worth a shot.