Read Shadow of Hope for Free Online Page B
Authors: Elizabeth Rose, Tina Pollick
Apparently, he also caught hers. Whenever he was around, he frequented the establishment to see her.
As they got to know each other better, Lucian pondered a life besides one of servitude to Aries. One night they lay under the stars, talking about the life that could be theirs. Lucian could see himself spending eternity just like this.
Lucian awoke to rough leather digging into his back repeatedly. Aries was waking him for the morning exercises the gentlest way he knew how; with several solidly placed kicks.
“Awaken, dog. I have a gift for you.”
Lucian struggled to his feet, wiping the slumber from his eyes. Aries pointed to an Ash behind him, one which Lucian meditated under frequently. The one under which him and Lyssa would spend great amounts of time talking while Aries was off waging wars in other countries and provinces.
As he turned, the hope flooding his soul quickly turned to dread. Hanging on the tree, crucified, was Lyssa’s body, headless. Lucian turned to his master, enraged. He pulled his knife and threw every attack and strike he could muster at his master. Aries sidestepped or dodged them all. As Lucian came in with an overhanded swing, Aries swept his legs out from under him, causing him to fall onto his face. Aries pushed his face into the ground and stabbed the knife downwards with a violent thrust. The blade slashed Lucian’s cheek and embedded in the earth next to him. Aries knelt and yanked a fistful of Lucian’s hair, raising Lucian’s head to meet his gaze. Pain flared in Lucian’s skull as the tendrils of hair in Aries’ fist were stretched to almost their breaking point. Some, in fact, were as they tore freely from Lucian’s head. “The humans have a saying. I believe it goes like this; never bite the hand that feeds you.”
Aries dropped Lyssa’s head in front of Lucian. “A reminder , I was gentle this time. Those who serve War cannot divide their loyalties. Others have paid a far greater price for their…indiscretions…than this. Don’t ever cross me again, Lucian. You will not like the result.”
It was from that day on that Lucian realized he had condemned his soul to a living hell.
****
“Forgive me, Master. I have failed.” Lucian knelt on the dust caked concrete floor of the old printing warehouse. Dim light entered the barred windows, casting ghoulish fingers dancing on the darkness within. Sheaves of yellowed paper rustled with crisp protest under Aries approaching boots.
Though he couldn’t see it with his head bowed, Lucian caught the raw stench of well-used horsehide. The Cat then, he thought with distant approval. He earned this. He failed his Master, and the punishment should fit the offense.
“Lucian, I fear you have grown soft in this new age. Make no mistake. I’ve never been a big fan of your mother’s underhanded method of fighting. A man should savor the joy of watching another’s life flee from his dying body.
But your tricks and subtlety have proven their worth when the need so arises. But even in this, tonight, you have failed me. I ask you to steal a trinket from a twenty-odd year old Vet Tech. And you let her escape. Remove your shirt and coat.”
Lucian did as he was commanded, exposing lean, corded muscle with all manner of scar tissue, burn marks and age old bruises. The musty scent of burlap reached his nostrils. Another scent beneath that-
The glass, nails, and razors of the Cat bit deep into his flesh, each element a whole new dimension of pain. The nails bit more lightly than the others, and left a cold sting where they penetrated his flesh. The glass cut swiftly, and he could feel the coarse bits edging the wound, like some insatiable rash, which could never be salved. Then the razors, which cut deep and slow and as they embedded in his skin, the initial sensation of cold quickly gave way to a searing heat as his torn tissues protested the violation of his flesh.
Lucian gritted his teeth and stifled his cries. Aries would not see
As they got to know each other better, Lucian pondered a life besides one of servitude to Aries. One night they lay under the stars, talking about the life that could be theirs. Lucian could see himself spending eternity just like this.
Lucian awoke to rough leather digging into his back repeatedly. Aries was waking him for the morning exercises the gentlest way he knew how; with several solidly placed kicks.
“Awaken, dog. I have a gift for you.”
Lucian struggled to his feet, wiping the slumber from his eyes. Aries pointed to an Ash behind him, one which Lucian meditated under frequently. The one under which him and Lyssa would spend great amounts of time talking while Aries was off waging wars in other countries and provinces.
As he turned, the hope flooding his soul quickly turned to dread. Hanging on the tree, crucified, was Lyssa’s body, headless. Lucian turned to his master, enraged. He pulled his knife and threw every attack and strike he could muster at his master. Aries sidestepped or dodged them all. As Lucian came in with an overhanded swing, Aries swept his legs out from under him, causing him to fall onto his face. Aries pushed his face into the ground and stabbed the knife downwards with a violent thrust. The blade slashed Lucian’s cheek and embedded in the earth next to him. Aries knelt and yanked a fistful of Lucian’s hair, raising Lucian’s head to meet his gaze. Pain flared in Lucian’s skull as the tendrils of hair in Aries’ fist were stretched to almost their breaking point. Some, in fact, were as they tore freely from Lucian’s head. “The humans have a saying. I believe it goes like this; never bite the hand that feeds you.”
Aries dropped Lyssa’s head in front of Lucian. “A reminder , I was gentle this time. Those who serve War cannot divide their loyalties. Others have paid a far greater price for their…indiscretions…than this. Don’t ever cross me again, Lucian. You will not like the result.”
It was from that day on that Lucian realized he had condemned his soul to a living hell.
****
“Forgive me, Master. I have failed.” Lucian knelt on the dust caked concrete floor of the old printing warehouse. Dim light entered the barred windows, casting ghoulish fingers dancing on the darkness within. Sheaves of yellowed paper rustled with crisp protest under Aries approaching boots.
Though he couldn’t see it with his head bowed, Lucian caught the raw stench of well-used horsehide. The Cat then, he thought with distant approval. He earned this. He failed his Master, and the punishment should fit the offense.
“Lucian, I fear you have grown soft in this new age. Make no mistake. I’ve never been a big fan of your mother’s underhanded method of fighting. A man should savor the joy of watching another’s life flee from his dying body.
But your tricks and subtlety have proven their worth when the need so arises. But even in this, tonight, you have failed me. I ask you to steal a trinket from a twenty-odd year old Vet Tech. And you let her escape. Remove your shirt and coat.”
Lucian did as he was commanded, exposing lean, corded muscle with all manner of scar tissue, burn marks and age old bruises. The musty scent of burlap reached his nostrils. Another scent beneath that-
The glass, nails, and razors of the Cat bit deep into his flesh, each element a whole new dimension of pain. The nails bit more lightly than the others, and left a cold sting where they penetrated his flesh. The glass cut swiftly, and he could feel the coarse bits edging the wound, like some insatiable rash, which could never be salved. Then the razors, which cut deep and slow and as they embedded in his skin, the initial sensation of cold quickly gave way to a searing heat as his torn tissues protested the violation of his flesh.
Lucian gritted his teeth and stifled his cries. Aries would not see