Chapter two

Butraz attacks with savage glee and Kay barely manages to deflect his stroke. Their swords meet in mid air as each struggles to overpower the other. The demon uses the opportunity to wound his father on his right thigh with his claws. The pain from the wound makes him falter and he is sent to the floor by a sudden heave. He lays there unmoving.

A deep mirthless laugh can be heard throughout the temple as Butraz gloats over his fallen sire.

Mirial wails at the sight of Kay's prostrated form . He can do nothing but sob as his demon-child approaches him with murder in his eyes.

He is about to die .Yet, somehow he knows it is right. He wont fight his child . He will die and it will all be over. There wont be any more pain or sorrow, nor guilt.

Yes, guilt. Guilt for having seduced Kay even though he knew it was wrong and guilt for lying, for hiding his pregnancy when he knew the creature within him was evil.

His selfishness would bring death to a whole world, but he would be gone by then. Or so he hoped.

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Sunlight poured through the open window into the spacious room illuminating Mirial's bed . He sat resting against the headboard playing with the thin material that was draped high above the bed and fell all around it.

A deep sigh escaped his lips. At the sound a tall figure emerged from the shadows beyond the bed.

" What troubles you, my Lord?" His deep voice filled the room.

" Dreian. I am so lonely. " He cast a longing glance towards the door. " Why is he ignoring me ? He never comes to our room. "

A slight, sardonic smile appeared on his servant's lips. He came nearer to the bed. The sun shone on his grass- green hair and elfin face. A pair of pointed ears could be seen peeking from his coarse wild hair. He wore a strange vest of a black metallic material edged in silver and a short skirt, reaching only to mid-thigh at the sides, made in the same material and fashion.

" Perhaps , master , he is trying to elude you. As I recall you were quite ...ah... insistent the other night. " Dreian stared out through the window with a slight frown. " After all he knows the ancient laws; and there are those who wont let him forget. "

" What do you mean ? Explain yourself! "

" So, I've managed to provoke your curiosity. " As a magical construct created by Mirial ( with a piece of his own soul) Dreian was finely attuned to Mirial's emotional state. He was well aware of how deeply his master was hurting because Kay had spurned him.

" I've been spying around the Serian ( Jureal's Hall of Justice and Legislature). It seems the favorite subject there about is your virginity. " From the corner of his eyes he could see Mirial smirking at his commentary. " A powerful faction headed by old Lord Vatros is petitioning for your exile from the palace. " To prevent any temptations to the young king", he claimed. Others are less emphatic, but just as determined. Lord Corek and his lover Lord Nias have presented Nias's sister as possible candidate to be the King's mistress. "

" Kay would never send me away; as for the wife, he must choose someone eventually. She comes from a very powerful family both in possessions and magical powers. " Mirial detested political intrigue. " Really I do not see why they must interfere with our affairs so much. That stuff about the demonic babies is all a lie concocted by the priest. "

Mirial turned to face the elemental creature sensing his unasked question. " No, I do not know why they would do such a thing. All I know is that I've witness well over a dozen birth's , male births, and not one of them has been a demon. No one has seen a demon during the last five hundred years."

" Of course none of them was conceived by an Illuminaous." He kept the thought to himself. Instead he said. "Then , what will you do to recapture your husband's attention?"

" I... I have no idea. "

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Lord Corek awakened to the sensation of soft lips caressing his neck. The sweet smell of wild flowers engulfed him. He knew that fragrance.

" Nias." His beloved torment. The one luxury he allowed himself. The seventeen year old youth was a proud beauty with golden eyes and auburn hair.

Corek himself was twice as old as Nias ,though he was still a vigorous man. His hair was silvery-blonde and his eyes were gray. Corek's face was handsome , but severe, always serious as befit one of his rank. He was the Lord Chamberlain of Jureal and he was second only to the king. "MM.. I love the way you taste... like grapes and wine." Nias whispered while he licked Corek's earlobe.

" So you want to play before breakfast? Sorry , but not today." Corek stood up leaving a very disenchanted Nias on the bed.

"There are things we must speak of first. I have talked to the other members of the Serian and they have agreed to make Lady Elra the King's mistress. Now we must convince him that she is the best choice."

" She is the best suited, plus she is Mirial's virtual double." He was stroking his pale throat with a lock of his reddish hair.

" That is not enough. He has to fall for her .She has to conceive his heir." Corek was getting impatient.

" Do not worry yourself ,dear. She has prepared a little spell, with my help, that will enslave him to her will."

" Imbecile! If the King suspects that she is using sorcery on him our heads will roll." Corek barely managed to control his raising anger. He turned his back on the boy trying to keep his temper in check.

" No ,my love! He wont detect this one. It is so slow and gradual he wont even notice." Nias went to his side and slipped his arms around Corek's neck as his lips sought the other man's lips in a passionate kiss. As they parted he breathed onto the other's mouth, " Trust me, my love!" " Trust you? I might love you little one, but I could never trust you." Corek removed himself from the tender embrace.

" My plans all depend on your sister bearing Kay's son. That's why I made certain he married the Nightshadow boy. Because of her sarenese blood ( elf-like tribe from the north) Elra could never be queen , however she can be his mistress. Kay is the last pure Illuminaous, with his death, preceded by Mirial's, his son would inherit the throne. Since he would still be a child the Lord Chamberlain of Jureal would become regent in his name. Sadly, for my scheme to work the child will not survive to adulthood, leaving the throne without a suitable heir and thus I will be made King of Jureal!"

"Oh!... My poor, poor sister. To loose a husband and a son so soon!" The sarenese lord exclaimed with feigned pity before he burst out laughing .

Observing the malignant delight in his lover's effeminate face Corek felt a chill run down his spine. The child was evil, purely evil. He took the laughing youth in his arms and carried him over to the bed. He was evil , but he was so lovely, he could not resist him.

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Dreian silently left the shadows he had used to teleport into the fortress. The shadow-gate was his favorite spell. In through one shadow out through the other. Of course heavily warded locales like the Illuminaous palace and the Nightshadow fortress were harder to infiltrate than most places.

He quietly advanced towards the Duke's chamber. He should be in bed by now.

Two immense doors marked the entrance to the Nightshadow Lord's room. Dreian's form became intangible as he stepped through the doors. Within the room it was utterly dark. Unnaturally dark.

Suddenly a deep voice called out to him from the darkness.

" Why are you here Dreian?"

" Amazing! He sensed my presence." Thought the magical entity.

" Silly child. I did not become the Lord of Nightshadow for nothing. No one with such a powerful aura as yourself can enter my domain without my knowing about it. " His impressive silhouette emerged from the gloom as a dim light emanated from the walls. " Now , tell me why you are here."

" It is Mirial... " His answer was cut short.

" You fear for his life! I do as well. You must ensure his safety until my plan is carried out." He paused to serve himself a goblet of wine. " My intervention will secure his place as ruler of Jureal." An impish smile played on his thin lips.

" How can you accomplish that , my Lord?"

" By removing the young King from his throne. Once he is dead none of the remaining members of the Illuminaous family will be even close to Mirial's might. He is one of the most powerful sorcerers ever to exist, even if he denies it. There is no better candidate for the throne and since he already is the Ragghyr it would be his right."

There was a flaw somewhere in his Lord's reasoning. A fact he was missing. Dreian could sense it . He just did not know what it was exactly. So he voiced the first thought that came to mind.

" He is in love with the king. I belief he seeks to bear his child." Dreian did not expect the startlement his commentary caused on his master. He was seething with rage.

" See to it that he purges such thoughts from his mind. That course of action could spell doom for all of us! "

" As you wish. What of Lord Corek and his followers?"

" Without a royal child to use as his shield he is powerless. However, should he oppose me, I will not doubt on using my control over the army to subdue him and his faction." He turned towards Dreian and half of his face was obscured by shadows giving his statement an eerie prophetic quality. " My son will be the King of Jureal! I will go to any lengths to ensure it! No longer will my clan bow at the feet of the Illuminaous!"

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Mirial stood naked before a large mirror. He was admiring his beautiful figure and wondering why Kay did not find him as irresistible as other men did. His hand unconsciously traveled over the flat planes of his chest down his torso to his abdomen. There it made slow, erotic circles around a round spot in his lower belly.

That single red circle marked him as a true "Nightshadow", a worshipper of Quiax'n. It was the symbol of the ancient promise. The brand that granted him his awesome power and the gift of motherhood. It would allow Mirial to conceive once in his lifetime. This ability was shared by all the males in his family do to their devotion to the dark god.

Bitterness was seeping into his soul. He could feel it. His hopes for a happy life with Kay were rapidly dissipating. If he did not manage to gain his husbands affection soon he would surely loose him.

How could he compete against the one he chose to bear his children. She would be his lover, not him. She would carry his children, share his every moment. Mirial would be eclipsed. Lost in the glittering world of the court, a mere ornament to be displayed as a prize, no better than a horse or carriage.

He had seen it before. Better to die than to become such a pathetic creature.

Tonight, it would be his last chance. A ball was to take place in which Kay was expected to choose his mistress. What a horrible affair. Worst of all, Mirial had to bless them. It would signify his acceptance of the union and reaffirm his loyalty to his Lord and husband.

" This is it! " He exclaimed, as he prepared to leave on his way to the party. " Either, I make you mine tonight or you wont have a mistress tomorrow morning. She will be your wife!"