The Grey Sight: An Erotic Novella (7 page)

“Yes, and she has sanctuary
here.” 

 
              Chase carried her down a stairwell. They were going down, down, down.   Lily drifted in and out of unconsciousness. 

They were in a long, dark tunnel.  Water dripped down on her face, her arms dangling below her.   Blood, so much blood.  Chase’s eyes, never leaving her face.  The
re was a black marble lobby, its ceiling covered with angels and demons.  Or perhaps just demons.
  

“Stay awake, stay awake my love…”  Chase’s face was the last thing she saw as she lost conscious.  If she had to die, that was just
the way she wanted to do it.

              She awoke later, in white gossamer cloud.   Confused, Lily moved her legs and felt a fine sheet wrapped around them. 
Phew. She wasn’t dead.
Just in a bed.
  Lily went to push herself up.  Fiery pain shot down her shoulder and into her arm, leaving her gasping for breath.  She lay back against the pillows with a cry.

              “You won’t want to really use that arm for a month or so.”, said someone in a kind, but unrecognizable voice.  “Your tendons were almost severed.”

Lily squinted into the darkness.  It all came flooding back to her. 
The lightning. Jess. Sappho’s dagger.  Chase Husher.  “
Where are you?” asked Lily.  The man slouched slowly into the light.

The grey light that buzzed around him was brighter than normal.  He was
bald, with a long white beard that shifted and swayed when he walked. He wore a plain grey robe with white linen shirt underneath it.    Lily pulled away from his touch.

“Don’t be alarmed child. No one will hurt you.  For now
, at least.  My name is Odhran”    With gentle hands, he felt up and down her arm, his fingers pushing lightly where the blade had entered.    “You are healing quickly.  Our doctor is extremely skilled, although it has been awhile since he treated a mortal.”

 
              Lily went to brush her hair out of her face and let out a soft whoosh of pain. 

“Here, let me.”

                Lily sat patiently as the man swept her damp hair back from her face. 

“That might not look the best…” he mumbled.  
Lily looked down. She was wearing a somewhat transparent grey robe, tied with an elaborate piece of green and gold silk.   She blushed.

“I’m sorry about your clothing. We
had to cut off your shirt, and your pants were soaked with blood.   We dressed you for comfort.  Tomorrow you will have some regular clothing left out for you.” 

He stared unabashedly
into her grey eyes.  “Fascinating!  I can see why Chase cares for you so intensely.” 

“You know him? Chase?” 

The man in the robe gave a chuckle.  “Oh yes.  I know Chase very well.”  

“Where is he? Can I see him?”

                “Not until your trial begins.  We cannot have mortals and grey-walkers sleeping under the same roof.  It is too dangerous, and House Fury could never take that risk.” 

“But he’s okay?”  The man made a confused face.  “Of course he is.  House Fury was his home for many years.
Chase is adored here.” 

“What?”

                The man stroked his beard. “Perhaps it is not my place to say.  But Chase did many important things for House Fury. He has many…uses.” 

“You mean he manipulates people for House Fury.”

              “No. He was a part our ruling family for a very long time.  He was well-loved, my dear, but then he suddenly disappeared.  Lord and Lady Fury are certainly glad to see his face again. He was like a son to them.”  

“A son they used.” 

The man’s black eyes shimmered as he wrung his hands together. “Certainly. But Chase was not called “The Silver Tongue” because of what others did. It is possible to use someone for their gifts and still care for them.”  

  
              “I really would like to see him.”

“Unfortunately my
lady, that is not my place to allow.  In the morning, your trial will commence, and you will see him there.   In the meantime, I would encourage you to eat and rest.  A day of sleep is what you truly need.  You have been stabbed, and your body needs to heal.  If you need anything, there are two guards outside your door. They will be there until the morning, making sure nothing comes out – or in.”  His unspoken threat lingered in the air. 

“What about
Riggor and Sappho?”

“The
y are here as well” said Odhran, “but don’t be alarmed.  They cannot harm anyone that has sanctuary, and if they do, a long and painful death awaits them.  Even the most powerful grey-walkers fear the wrath of House Fury.  Now, is there anything else I can get for you?”

 
              Lily shook her head no.  

“Your food is on the tray over there.   It’s all safe to eat, I’ve tasted each dish. 
There is a bottle of pain medicine on the tray as well. I would recommend taking one immediately. Our drugs are much stronger than your average mortal pills.  Only take one or two, or you will be incoherent at the trial tomorrow.”

              “What am I on trial for again? I haven’t done anything.” asked Lily testily. 

The old man
paused, his grey robe billowing ever so slightly. “You aren’t on trial for what you have done.” He said.  “You are on trial for what you WILL do.”   He gracefully took his leave.

              Lily stared at the ceiling for awhile, her heart pounding and her arm aching.  She finally managed to roll off the bed and walk over to the tray.   A rich vegetable pasta sat steaming, along with braised artichokes, bread and a tiny cup of chocolate mousse. Lily devoured them all.  She hadn’t realized she was starving until that moment.   The last thing she’d had to eat was the bite of a turnover near the train station. 
A lifetime ago
, she mused.

She slipped a pill down her throat and moved back to the bed. Just the simple act of moving across the room made her wound ache, and she climbed back into bed, grateful for the soft sheets and blankets to snuggle in. In minutes, she was out cold.

Lily
awoke to the sound of scraping.  She opened her eyes in the darkness.  There was a single candle burning by the side of her bed, but she could see nothing more. 
I must have slept all day
.   Her arm felt remarkably better, but small blades of pain still shot down her arm as she rose from the bed.  Shrugging off her blankets, she padded over to the window. 

              The window was thick, with wrought iron swirls decorating the inside.  From her window she could see only the sea.  That’s what Chase meant, she thought. 
We’re INSIDE the cliffs
, she thought.   There must have been a tunnel underneath the sea that took you back to the cliffs and into House Fury
.

 
              It’s genius
, she thought
. Impenetrable.  You had to go out to come in.  
The scratching sound was coming from below her.  Lily pushed open the window and looked down.  A black figure was climbing up the wall, as steadily as a spider.  He was almost to the window.  She stopped breathing and stepped back. 

I must find a weapon
.
Oh my god!

There was a fireplace near the door, with a poker hanging off o
f it.  Lily ran to it, her arm pulsing with each step.   She grabbed the heavy iron handle with her strong arm and stood to the side of the window. 
I must not be afraid
, she thought,
otherwise the battle is already lost
.   The hooded black figure had made it to the window ledge.   Lily turned and lashed out with the poker, but the man caught it in his hand, just before it hit the side of his head. 

“LILY! What are you doing??”

              “Chase?”  A wave of relief, washed over her face.   “I’m sorry! Well, honestly, I’m not truly sorry. It could have been anyone!  You scared me! “ His gorgeous face stared back at her from the windowsill as she blathered on, the closeness of his body making her flush with nervousness.

“
Well, okay.  I guess I’m a little sorry that I could have knocked you –“

She didn’t have time to finish.

              Chase leapt off the window and pushed his wet lips to hers,  lifting her body into his arms.  He trailed his tongue over her upper and lower lip, and Lily opened her mouth to his every probe.  He yanked her up into his arms. With three long steps, he made it to the side of the bed.  He was breathless, slick with sweat from his climb.  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait to see you. They have me locked in my own room about three stories down.  How is your arm?”

              “I don’t’ want to talk about my arm” said Lily, trailing her fingers down his face. He kissed her fingertips hungrily.   “It’s time. Touch me.
Take me
.”

              “Are you sure? I don’t want to injure you further.”  She stared him down.

“I’m not going to ask
you again.”

              Chase’s eyes gave a resounding yes.

“Finally” he breathed, as he
laid her down on the bed.  She reached for him. 

“No.”  he sai
d.  “I’ve waited for you for two decades. I won’t rush it.” 

Lily let out a quivering sigh. 

Taking his time, he slowly untied the sash around her waist, letting the grey robe fall open in the middle.  He stepped back to watch her and Lily gave a slow shrug of her shoulders. The robe fell to the ground in a pile around her feet.  She was naked in front of him, unashamed and starving for passion.

He laid his fingers on her forehead and then traced them down slowly – over her flushed lips, down her chin and onto her chest.  Down and down
his fingers went, tracing each curve in a straight line, over her ribs and around her belly button.  Reaching his hand between her legs, he gave her a few strokes with his fingers, each one as light as a feather drifting over her skin.   Down further, he traced her thighs, her calves and lingered on each tiny toe. 

“
The gods have been good to you.” He breathed.  

Lily could see
his trembling restraint as he lifted her onto the bed.   Then he stepped back, staring at her pale naked body as Lily’s grey eyes teased his. He let out a low moan and grasped the edge of the bed, overcome with longing as he gazed at her body.

“I want to consume you.
Can I?”

She could give her consent fast enough.

              Her breasts, two perfect peaches with plump candy nipples rose trembling above her flat stomach.  She watched his eyes trace over her rounded hips, perfect for twisting around his waist, and linger hungrily on her mound, barely covered by a tiny cloud of blond hair.  

“You’re perfect” he moaned, s
inking to his knees on the bed.  He took a breast in one hand and dipped his mouth to sample a taste of her wet center. She could feel her honey drip onto his outstretched tongue. He gave it a single lick and then raised himself back up to lavish attention on her breasts. Lily gave a moan and wrapped her hand in his thick black hair. 

She ar
ched her body so that her nipple was shoved deeply into his warm, waiting mouth.  Flicking and sucking, his tongue danced across her nipples, while the other hand pinched and squeezed the other.  He traded off one and then another.   Lily was dripping wet, the gossamer white bed damp with her dew.   Chase was circling each breast with his tongue, which drew a groaning series of moans from Lily’s mouth.  He was teasing her.  She pushed her hips, but Chase pushed them back down. 

“Not yet” he said.  “I need to worship you.” 

When each breast was sucked raw and Lily was thrashing around on the bed, he finally moved his kisses down her stomach, taking the time to lay several warm kisses over her belly button.  Wrapping his large hands around her buttocks, he slid his fingers up and down her cheeks and back to the inside of her thighs.  Lily wrapped her thighs over his shoulders and Chase spread her legs to take in all of her.   His mouth watered at the sight of her womanhood, pink and glistening.  Tongue first, he gave her a deep lick, sampling the goods for the second time.

“You taste like berries
” he said.  “Ripe and sharp, and everything I ever wanted.”

              He blew a tiny whiff of air over her nub and Lily shivered with passion.    His tongue and mouth plundered her soft petals, tugging and licking and tasting every inch outside and inside of her.
The silver-tongue indeed
, she thought. Lily let out a quiet cry and Chase’s long arm reached up and covered her mouth. 

“Quiet, my love, or they will know something is amiss.”

Lily’s grey eyes gave her consent to continue as her fingers clutched at the crown of his head.    Her body was arching, her legs over his shoulders so that only her upper back was touching the bed.  Chase was in her, all around her, his tongue her master, her only love.   Lily let out a scream as a warm rush spread over her thighs.  Chase stood and smiled.