Immortal Mates

Nothing existed outside of these dry and empty walls that confined and bound me, the sun was all but a stranger as it taunted me with its gentle ray of light, no light entered the tiny room that made up my prison. I sat there motionless as my tangled and filthy black hair hung over my defeated face, it had been months if not years since another living soul approached me let alone showed me any bit of remorse.

They were starving mortals who felt all-powerful because they possessed the one sought after weapon, the goddess of love and war, a woman who turned the tides with a simple breath from her beautiful full lips.

A powerful and immortal creature.

“Wake up, slave,” a gruff sounding man said as he kicked in my side.

I screamed out from the pain as I felt one of my ribs snap from within my chest, I spat up blood as my head rocked back from the impact. The man towered over me as he reached for the chains that clawed their way into my ankle, the skin was raw and bloodied as the exposed skin was torn from the many years of imprisonment. My onyx hair hung over my face as my purely silver eyes glared up at the man who had just harmed me, he was someone who wasn’t afraid to lay a finger upon me as he had done over the last decade and yet he was brave enough to mark a goddess of the night.

“I may be a slave for now but at least I will not die a gruesome death like you,” I said as I gritted my teeth.

“Why you,” He said as his foot met with my face with a sickening crack.

My jaw hung at an odd angle as I wiped the fresh blood from my chin, I ground my teeth together angrily as I spat blood at his booted feet. A disgusted scoff came from the man who towered over me as he bent over and grasped my hair within his rough hand, he pulled the strands by the roots as he forced me to my feet. I cried out from the pain as my hair threatened to snap from the base of my head and yet the man didn’t care, he continued to pull me away as I stumbled to my feet. He removed the heavy chains from my feet and instead moved them to my wrists, he forced my wrists together as he locked the cold and harsh iron to my pale and dirty skin, I wanted to claw his eyes out at that moment and yet I knew that I couldn’t.

“Release me!” I screamed as bloodied tears sprung to my eyes.

“Your new king demands your presence,” The man said with a snicker.

New king? I thought darkly as my eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“May the gods bless Elaara,” I said sarcastically as the man dragged me out of the room that had been my prison for many years.

“And it’s true heir,” The man finished with a snicker.

I looked up as a dark look flashed through my silver eyes, I knew what it meant for the previous king to pass, it meant that the curse of death finally claimed him and now his heir, his son was next in line. I had lived through the many reins of man and none had been as foolish and cruel as the last, he had been a man who sought the utmost power and would do anything to achieve his goal. I thought back to the previous king's unforgettable eyes, they had been an undeniable trait that ran through the royal bloodline only, the ancient blood would forever be cursed as each generation sought after something that didn’t belong to them, they tampered with nature to the point of causing harm to those around them.

My ancient chains clung to the dirty stone floor as I was lead away and down a spiraling staircase, I had only stepped foot within these dark walls a few times as I had been abandoned and forgotten within my tiny cell over the years. I glanced at the man's back as I imagined plunging a dagger deep into his backside and yet he was not the one who I wanted to take my revenge on, no, the ones who deserved my revenge were those of the filthy blood of the Alden bloodline.

“It’s the same as forty years ago, you will bathe and prepare to see your new ruler,” The man stated after we had explored the ancient halls for what felt like hours.

I was convinced at that point that he was taking me around in circles so that I didn’t have any chance of escaping while being free of my cell. I violently pulled against the chains that bound me causing the man who was leading me away to stumble slightly, he quickly looked back as annoyance emerged from his face. I had never cared to remember his name as I was his punishment just as much as he was mine, he was the only face I had known over the last few decades as his onyx eyes always seemed to bore into me as he looked at me with complete hatred. He was a descendant of the royal bloodline and yet he had lost to the fight for the throne even before his father was murdered so long ago.

I will kill them all, I thought as I angrily ground my teeth together.

“I hope the new king is just as cruel to you like the last,” The older man said with a harsh snicker as he turned back around and pushed open an ancient wooden door.

I dreaded what lied behind the door as I could already hear the maidservants scrambling about as they rushed to prepare the room where they were meant to greet the one creature within these walls who never dies. We stepped forward into the large room only to be greeted by gasps from many of the women who stood before us, none of them were familiar as their unique faces greeted me with shocked expressions.

“I didn’t know the sword of Artemis was so beautiful,” A younger girl murmured and yet it was just loud enough for everyone to catch her words.

I smirked as I looked over at the girl, our eyes met for the briefest of moments as I took in her young features.

Yes, beautiful, I thought to myself as not even dirt and grime could dwindle my spirit.

I kept my eyes on the young girl who had spoken up just a few short moments ago, there was nothing spectacular about her as she seemed to blend in with her surroundings and yet that was the best thing for she was an intruder within the castle. I turned to look away as I buried my head under the hot water of the large inground tub that I had been tossed into the moment the guard left the room, I attempted to hide the smirk that was threatening to spread to my cheeks as I fully submerged my head under the water.

My hair appeared like a massive black hole as the endless strands swirled from around me as the maidservants followed into the water after me to help wash the most prized possession within these stone walls. Something seemed to change within an instant the moment the young girl stepped foot within the water, her feet left behind a milky white colour that only I could see, she was a pure soul who had found herself within enemy territory. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was a fool or truly brave.

You look like shit, the brazen girl said with her voice erupting within my mind.

Her unexpected words forced me to break through the water, I whipped my head around as I gave her a dirty look and yet it had no effect as she simply smirked at my expression before putting a lotion within her hands before approaching me to scrub the thick liquid within my hair. I groaned once her fingertips touched my skull, a tingly sensation spread through my body as I closed my eyes and allowed her access into my mind.

That’s what happens when a treasure is hidden away for so long, I said with a chuckle.

Don’t be so obvious dummy! She said harshly as she quickly looked around to see if the other women were looking at us.

It’s not like they can hear our conversation, I said as I leaned into her hands as she gathered the mass of hair and lathered the soapy substance into my skull.

That’s not the point, don’t be stupid and get my cover blown! She said annoyed now as she pulled a strand of hair.

“Ow!” I proclaimed as I quickly pulled my body away from her as I turned my head to glare at the girl.

“Whoops?” She said with a shrug.

You’re still a bitch Ariccia!” I said as I glared at her.

You’re still as sullen as ever, the girl named Ariccia said as she grabbed me by the hair and pulled me into her so she could finish what she had started.

Deal with it, I said sullenly.

That’s how you treat me after so many years? Ariccia said feigning offence.

You and your sister abandoned me, I said as another maidservant approached us and began to work on cleaning my body.

We didn’t abandon you we-” Ariccia started before she was cut off by a sudden noise.

“Ladies, lets hurry and finish cleansing and dressing the prized sword, his majesty is waiting in the throne room, tonight our power will grow in volume!” An older woman said gleefully as she burst through the room.

That fucking- Ariccia started as she glared at the head maid.

I quickly elbowed Ariccia in the ribs before she had the chance to blow her cover, her power was only so strong within the human’s territory as she was barely capable of maintaining the illusion that surrounded her. Ariccia was a rare river Seelie, she was woman who had devoted her eternal life and loyalty to the goddess of the moon, she risked everything to protect me and yet we had almost lost everything centuries ago when one mistake put our lives at risk. I glanced at Ariccia pleadingly as I looked past the mirage that she had placed over herself, her familiar fuchsia eyes finally poked through as she looked back at me understandingly.

I cannot take another 50 years here, I said desperately.

We have a plan… She said before she was interrupted once again.

“You! Girl!” The head maid said as she pointed at Ariccia.

“Yes, Ma’am?” Ariccia asked.

“Hurry up and rinse her hair already, his majesty cannot be kept waiting!” The older woman said with a grunt before she turned her back on us and left the room.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Ariccia said as she grabbed my shoulders and forced me under the water.

“Bluurb!” I protested as the air fled my lips and caused violent bubbled within the water as I was forced under the surface.

Shh! Ariccia demanded.

I hate you sometimes! I said heatedly.

Sure, you do, Ariccia said disbelievingly.

She took a glimpse from around her as the other maid servant made her way out of the inground bath tub, the moment Ariccia knew no one was looking at us she turned her attention back onto me as she forcefully scrubbed the bubbles from my endless onyx locks.

He’s coming for you, Ariccia said as her face faded away as the bubbles blinded me.

He? Who is he? I demanded as curiosity consumed me now.

Don’t worry about that, just be ready! Ariccia exclaimed before her hands left my head.

I pushed my head through the surface once again as my onyx hair clung to my naked body, I looked down after a moment and noticed that all my scars and injuries were now completely healed. Ariccia had done more to me then telepathically communicated with me, I looked at her knowingly as she turned her back on me, I knew it would be the last time I would be seeing her as she had already risked a lot by breaking in just to reach me.

Be careful, I said as I watched her walk away.

Don’t let the new king touch you, Ariccia said knowingly before she disappeared.

I’d rather die then allow another man like him to touch me, I thought to myself as I furrowed my eyebrows in determination.

A silent maid stood behind me as she gathered the mass amount of onyx locks that hung heavily over my shoulders, the endless strands smelled of vanilla extract and honey as the woman gently massaged a pale moose within my hair. Her damaged and heavily scarred hands worked the sweet-smelling foam into my skull as she worked her way to the ends of the lengthened hair. I couldn’t help but stare at her hands through the wooden and gold embroidered mirror that sat in front of me as I was forced to look at myself through the reflective surface.

My appearance caught me off guard as I stared into the endless void of my silver eyes, I was the only creature in existence to have such a unique eye colour, a colour that was so devoid of pigment and emotions. There were moments within my vast moment that were empty, as if someone had whipped away the significance of the moment and left the only remaining thing, the warm and tingly sensations. Parts of me wanted to heal what had been stolen from me as the humans had continuously experimented on me throughout the years, it was an experience that I had attempted to block out as I urged my mind to enter a world that was unimaginable to the naked eye.

“He’s coming,” the maid behind me said.

My eyes shot up as I gazed into the maids hazel eyes as the familiar words filled the air and yet it was impossible for the woman to speak as the humans had ripped her vocal cords out, the small scar at the base of her throat was proof of that. The young woman continued to focus on my hair as she decided what to do with the mass of locks and yet the spoken words never registered within her face, as if they had never been spoken out loud. I wanted to reach into the woman’s mind and claw out the information out of her precious brain, information that I craved for as I knew it would lead to the demise of the man that I was destined to kill.

“He’s coming,” The voice said again only this time the words seemed to fill the air from around me.

I shifted my focus from the stoic maid to my reflection within the mirror as the ancient creature looked back at me with silver eyes that glistened with curiosity. I wanted nothing more to decipher the meaning behind the mysterious words that seemed to surround me and fill my very cells and yet I needed to push them aside and focus on the matter at hand.

The maid finally settled on an elegant updo as her hands quickly worked to weave the lengthened strands into intricate knots as woven braids held it all together. I touched the loose strands of hair that framed my face as brushed my hand against my gentle and pointed chin, the frame of my face stood out as the heart shaped hairline stood out in contrast against my pale ivory skin. I was a unique creature to be marveled at as my striking beauty captivated even the woman within the mirror, there was nothing I wanted more then to recognize the woman looking back at me and yet it was a reflection that I only got to see once every few decades when the humans dragged me from my cell.

He’s here, I thought to myself as I finally stood up out of the chair and turned my back on the forgotten creature.

“Time is up,” The older man said as he shoved the door open and yet he refused to raise his eyes to look at me.

He’s always been a finicky man, I thought to myself as I examined the distant look within his eyes.

“You have always been impatient,” I defensively said.

I hated being commanded by a mere human and yet they held the utmost power over me and there was nothing I could do to break their hold over me. They had stolen a spell from ancient beings that no longer roamed the land, beings that the humans hunted to extinction. The Aki people once held an incredible magical ability and yet not even that could protect them from the force that was humanity.

“Let’s go Artemis,” He said gruffly as he ignored my words.

“Don’t call me that!” I snapped back and yet my attitude only worsened his attitude.

“I will call an insignificant piece of trash like you anything that I desire!” HE shouted angrily as he entered the room.

“You cannot enter these premises!” I shot back as I pulled on the golden hemline that the maid had dressed me in.

“Get her out of here, Now!” The man said as his voice elevated.

The silent maid bowed slightly at his ordered as she took that moment to crouch down and gather the train of my dress within her hands and held it so that the cream-like fabric didn’t bunch together within her scarred hands. Her body seemed to shiver from fear as the old man glared at her and yet it was something that I couldn’t seem to focus on at the moment as I finally took a step forward and out of the room.

“Mark my face and we will see how his majesty feels about that,” I mocked as I walked past the man.

I had never cared to remember his name and yet his impure black eyes were the only ones that I’d known over the last few decades and yet I knew that I held more power over him on that day, a day where fate would shift and I would finally be freed from the invisible shackles that held me down. I held my chin up confidently as I pushed past him and walked down the endless halls that had once held me captive and yet I was the only one who knew that I was soon to be freed.

I will end you.

My fingertips grazed my cleavage as they gently brushed the seal of binding, it was an intricate pattern that was engraved within my skin and bound to my soul, the humans used it to control me and keep me subdued so I was forced to complete their desires. I glanced down at my chest as the floor length gown easily revealed my cleavage as it had a plunging neckline that reached my mid stomach. the dress clung to my body like a second skin and fanned out at the hips, it revealed my breast almost too perfectly as the loose fabric barely covered the sensitive mounds of flesh.

I knew why they dressed me in such an elegant and revealing gown as it was meant to entice the new king so he had more of a desire to seal the bond with the goddess of war, the only way to bind my soul to him was through intercourse. It was something I’d openly rejected each time and yet the more I fought back the harder it became to resist as the kings were forced to order his guards to pin me down to the bed. It was an experience that made my skin crawl as I had been forced to accept a man who I did not desire, it was worth being shunned for decades rather then allow the king to keep me as a play thing. I shuddered as I was forced to remember the previous king who forced me to consume a tonic that would render me immobile and yet I was forced to witness the things he did to my body as he bound me to him until his death.

They all die eventually, I thought to myself as I made my way down the hallway that led to a large archway that revealed the world that I had longed to be a part of.

Those who forced themselves on me were cursed with a shortened life span, this was proven by the fact that all of the previous kings fell to their deaths before the age of fifty, despite knowing this they still completed the binding contract. The legends said that becoming one with Artemis would gift the receiver an eternal life and yet the legend has never been proven true and yet it has gifted the humans an immeasurable power that allowed them to stand up against their enemies.

It didn’t take long before the elderly man led me to the main palace, the massive arched wooden doors loomed down at me just as they have every time, I approached them. I squared my shoulders back and held up my chin as the gate keepers pulled the heavy doors open, allowing a gust of stale wind to exit the ominous room that smelled like mold and old ink.

“I hate this place,” I said as I instinctively wrinkled my nose in disgust.

“Shut up and keep walking,” The man said annoyed at my tone.

He pressed his hand onto my exposed back, the dress had an exposed back that dropped to the arch of my ass and exposed the groves that made up my curves, it left nothing to the imagination as the breeze brushed against my bare skin.

“Don’t touch me,” I said disgusted.

I hated the touch of humans, even their distinctive scent drove my stomach to flip on itself as it threatened to empty any contents that it held within. I felt my skin crawl as he finally removed his hand and yet I knew it was inevitable for another human to lay his hands on me.

Don’t let the king touch you, Ariccia’s warning echoed within my mind as an ominous warning and yet I couldn’t help but linger on it.

“Don’t keep his majesty waiting,” The man said gruffly.

As if on que a maid servant greeted us, I could tell within an instant that she was a favored servant as not a single expanse of her fair skin was marked or scarred. The humans took pleasure in harming those who were lesser then them, they often took slaves and integrated them within their household as common servants and yet it was those servants that had the worst treatment.

“Greetings Lord Ottis, Artemis,” The servant said as a strand of her smooth blonde hair out of place and fell before her face.

Ottis? I thought curiously.

I brushed his name aside as just like so many years ago I couldn’t help familiarize myself with the man who had been in charge of my imprisonment during his life time and yet I couldn’t help but hold a soft spot for the older man. He had always been gentle with me during the early years of his brothers reign as my existence had ignited his curiosity and yet that curiosity soon died throughout the years as he was continuously forced to remain at his long and forgotten post. He was as much of a prisoner as I was as he was banished to guard the forgotten tower of Artemis after losing the fight for the throne.

“Please come this way,” The maid servant said as she straightened her posture.

“With pleasure,” I said stiffly.

I grabbed the train of my dress and proceeded forward into the grand room that had always lead to my downfall, it was the throne room of the Great Kings of Elaara, and yet the only reason they called themselves great was due to a power that they continuously stole. They were greedy and destructive creatures who cared about no body but themselves, their goal was to rid the world of inferior creatures who refused to bow to them and use them as their own personal puppets.

I pulled at the lengthened train that threatened my mobility and took a step forward into the looming room, there was a moment of gasped of exclamation as I entered the room, people in elegant gowns and crisp suits adorned the room as they stood before me in a mass mix of colours. The humans openly gawked at me as my presence was announced by a man standing off to the side with a lengthened list within his hand and yet he didn’t need it to know who the beautiful creature entering the throne room was.

“Entering Saoirse, the Sword of Artemis,” He announced gruffly with his voice radiating throughout the massive room.

It’s time, I thought with a smirk.