Read Three Days of Night Online

Authors: Tracey H. Kitts

Three Days of Night (8 page)

BOOK: Three Days of Night
7Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

“Well, that would explain your good looks.”

His smile had the same effect it did earlier, only this time I
did
sigh. He was gorgeous.

“I take it you didn’t inherit wings?”

“Hud lets me have them from time to time. He said he could make them permanent if that’s what I wanted. I haven’t made up my mind. I love to fly, but they sort of get in my way.”

That was awfully nice of him, to give wings to someone who didn’t inherit them.

“Does he do things like that for everyone?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

Max shook his head. “No. I helped him out when he first took power. He offered me the wings as a favor.”

I was still thinking over what he’d said when Max put his hand on my chin and tilted my face upward.

“You’ve got a thing for him, don’t you?”

“For who, Hud?”

“I thought you had something going on with Jester for sure. But when I look at you, at how you react to just the mention of his name. Hmm. I’d say you’ve got a thing for Hud.”

I took his hand gently and lowered it from my face.

“You’re right, Max.”

“About which one?”

I stood on tiptoe and gave him a chaste kiss. “Thank you.”

As I turned to leave he said, “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“Both.”

Chapter Seven

 

It had been a while since I’d had Icarum blood. It’s subtle yet sweet flavor was one of the greater pleasures in life as far as I was concerned. Even the trace of it in Max’s blood had been wonderful.

I looked up at the two moons and wondered if the entire planet would remain dark while I was here, or only the artificial environment Hud had created underground. I had seen other artificial environments before, but they were obviously fake. The only way I knew this one wasn’t real was because there simply couldn’t be a sun and moon underground. You could even feel the wind in your face, smell the familiar scents of night. I guess it was magic.

Dirt stirred around my boots as I made my way back to the other end of town. I remembered reading that djinn were considered all-powerful. Supposedly, they had been enslaved in order to keep them from taking over the universe. Myths and legends had always gotten my attention. When I read this back on Earth, I just assumed it was bullshit. Very creative, but still bullshit. I knew that magic was real, that wizards, like Morgan, were real. I even believed that the djinn had existed. I just didn’t believe that “all-powerful” crap. Perhaps I was mistaken.

It seemed like forever until I got past the boundaries of the underground market and Hud’s palace came into view. To say that I was in turmoil was such an understatement. Maybe if I just talked to Morgan about all of this he could help to clear things up. We hadn’t exactly been close, but we’d worked together and were on friendly terms for the past ten years. I trusted Morgan when it came to making decisions, at least
business
decisions. Even though he acted recklessly sometimes with his own safety, he always had his heart in the right place when it came to his colleagues.

But, that was business. This was definitely
not
business or any other logical thing that I could reason out. Shit. What was I going to do? Hud said these three days were to give me clarity. I could start with clearing my head. As I walked I started to take deep breaths. That always worked to calm me when I was alive and it still had a strong psychological effect now.

For the first time I really noticed how wonderful everything around me was. Hud’s palace sat right in the middle of what looked like an endless desert. Only the sands were much too white. The wind blew, but the sand never touched me. The air was filled with the sweet smell of incense. And as I got closer to the palace the smell grew stronger. It was like musk and leather. A rich earthy fragrance meant to stir my senses. Well, it was working.

The exterior of the palace was mostly white, with golden rooftops. I was pretty sure it was real gold too. I made my way up the steps, following the smell of incense as if it were my guide. The marble floor was so highly polished that at first glance it looked like I was walking on glass. Tall columns could be seen throughout the open front of the building. Tapestries hung down the hallway where I continued to follow the scent. The scenes depicted on the tapestries were amazing. Some of them showed the rise and fall of man. Others were far more ancient. There were different gods and goddesses, also thought by many to be myth. It was incredible.

I continued down the hallway until the sound of laughter reached my ears. Then, I started following the sound rather than the scent. Hud’s laughter made we wet with anticipation. How could laughter do that to me? And what was I anticipating? Was it just the sound of his voice that had such a powerful effect?

Morgan’s laughter blended in and made the effect even stronger. My stomach was tied in knots. Surely it was the combination of their magic I was feeling. I’d never thought to be in the presence of two magical beings. Magic was considered archaic and for the most part dead. What I felt coming in waves from the two of them was anything but dead. It was most certainly alive and it stirred something deep inside of me.

“So, you landed on Di’Wich?” Hud laughed again.

I could see them clearly now on the balcony at the end of the hallway. D was looking out over the landscape and Morgan tipped his glass toward Hud before taking a sip. I noticed a cigar in his other hand. It would seem that Morgan was making himself at home. Was I the only one who felt so strangely? It wasn’t that I didn’t feel welcome. I felt too welcome.

“That’s right,” Morgan answered. “The Barrakans, as I’m sure you know, won’t fight without their general. I have no idea how he didn’t see a spaceship coming, but he didn’t get out of the way in time and when we crashed.” He made a funny gesture indicating that the Barrakan General was flattened. Both of them laughed again and I shivered. I must have made a noise, because they all turned to look at me.

“There you are,” Morgan said, smiling. “When Hud said you had gone back into town I assumed you were out for a bite.”

“Yes.” I tried to smile and act natural. But there was nothing natural about the way I felt when I was near them.

“I thought I’d borrow him for a while,” Hud said, gesturing toward Morgan. “I hope you don’t mind. I haven’t seen a wizard in a long time. We magical beings have to stick together.”

I cleared my throat, carefully schooling my features before I spoke. “So, you were telling him how we defeated the Barrakans?”

“Yeah.”

Morgan turned his attention back to Hud and I moved to stand beside D at the edge of the balcony. When I bumped him lightly I looked down and realized that D was still wearing only a thong. The fact that something so obvious could go unnoticed showed just how distracted I was by Morgan and the djinn.

“So, while they were all confused about what had just happened, we got off the ship and started kicking ass.”

D turned around then and very seriously added, “We laid waste to over half their forces. They had no choice but to retreat.”

Hud nodded. An approving smile curled his full lips. “I can understand how you came to be known as Dr. Death.”

“Yes,” D agreed. As usual when he spoke, he seemed to neither approve nor disapprove of what was being said.

“And I can also see why the people of Ti’al might think you are all superheroes.” He laughed and shook his head, his strange blue hair falling in waves about his face. “I didn’t think I’d hear the term superhero used again.”

“I can’t decide if it’s fortunate or
un
fortunate that it’s all over the news,” Morgan said.

“I’m sure you can find a way to use it to your advantage.” Hud leaned back in his seat and the muscles of his abs rippled. There was beauty in his movement and poetry in his smile. If djinns truly were eternal, I could only imagine the things he must have seen. I was certain that any artist who had ever laid eyes on him must have been inspired in some way. “If everyone is ready to eat, dinner should be ready shortly. There are clean clothes laid out in your rooms. Three separate rooms have been prepared.” He spread his hands wide as he spoke. “Of course, you are all welcome to stay in the same room if you like.” He looked to me then and I could feel his eyes on me as if they were a pair of hands. “You can also stay with me if you wish. I’m not sure what your normal sleeping arrangements are.”

“I don’t sleep unless the sun rises. And even then, I only sleep until mid-day.”

“The sun will not rise until I tell it to,” Hud replied. “So, that leaves you with some time on your hands.” The look in his eyes said clearly that wasn’t all I would have on my hands.

Morgan rose to his feet and stretched. “Well, I’m gonna go get changed.”

He went to put out the cigar and Hud stopped him. “Take it with you. No point in wasting a good cigar just because you’re going inside.”

Morgan smiled and put the cigar between his teeth. “I like the way you think.” Before going inside he walked over to me. He put his hands on my shoulders and asked softly, “You okay, Viv? You seem uneasy.”

“I’m fine. I just want to stand here for a while.”

“All right.”

Morgan patted my shoulder before turning to go. D followed, leaving me alone with Hud once more. Morgan didn’t seem worried about leaving me with him. It also hadn’t appeared to faze him when Hud blatantly offered to let us all share his bed. After he freaked out about the way a sex droid vendor had looked at me earlier, I couldn’t believe how calm Morgan was now.

Hud rose to his feet and as he stepped out of the partial shadow and into the moonlight my breath caught. He shimmered. It looked like thousands of tiny diamonds were spread across his skin.

“You’re beautiful,” I whispered.

He came to stand beside me. When he propped against the railing I had to close my eyes. All the muscles down his side and back flexed and I wanted so much to touch him.

“If I’m so beautiful, then why have you closed your eyes?”

“Why are you doing this to me? My life was complicated enough. I won’t tell anyone your name. What is it that you want?”

I could sense his movement beside me. And as he drew closer, I could feel the heat rising from his body. He was standing directly in front of me. All I had to do was reach out and touch him.

“Why have you closed your eyes?” When he spoke this time his voice was like a caress to my senses. I could have listened to it forever. Maybe there was some peace to be had here after all.

“If I look at you, I’ll end up touching you.” I paused for a moment before confessing the rest of what I felt. “And if I touch you, I might not be able to stop. You’re a stranger to me and all I can think about is how to get my hands on you.”

“Reach out and touch me.”

“What?” At his words I couldn’t help but open my eyes. The top of my head barely reached his chest and though I tried to focus on his shimmering flesh, when I looked up it was his eyes that captured me.

“I was answering your question. How to get your hands on me. All you’ve got to do is reach out and touch me.”

“Why are you doing this?” My voice shook with emotion. I wanted so much to do what he said.

“Because it’s what you want. It’s what you need.”

“I’ll decide what I need.”

“And what is that? Tell me.”

Before Hud could react I had my arms around his neck. I literally leapt into his arms to overcome our height difference. His response was nearly as quick as mine. He held me tight as I pressed my lips to his, devouring him with my kiss. I pulled his bottom lip between my fangs, gently sucking on the flesh. He moaned and it was ecstasy to my ears. I wrapped my legs around him and he moved so that my butt rested against the balcony railing.
This
was what I needed and as my hands roamed hungrily over his glimmering skin, I was lost.

He lowered his face to my throat and I somehow found the strength to push him back. An inhuman growl escaped my lips with the effort.

“Morgan,” I panted. “I can’t do this.”

“You have feelings for him.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me. What is it that you fear about this situation?”

I pushed farther away from him and slid down from the railing. “Why would I tell you that? I don’t even know you.”

Hud took my hand and placed it flat against his chest. “Then stay here, and know me.”

“You can’t know someone just from—”

“To love me is to know me,” he said softly.

“I can’t love you.” I was surprised to find myself near tears at that realization.

Hud lowered his face to mine once more and whispered against my lips, “You cannot be with me without loving me.” He kissed me softly and spoke between kisses. “When I touch you, you will feel such passion, such pleasure that it can only inspire love.”

“What about Morgan?”

“Just because you love one does not mean you can’t love another.” He kissed me again.

“He would never understand and I don’t want to hurt him.”

Another soft kiss made me tremble and I had to lean into him for support.

“For someone who has spent the last several years working with a wizard, you don’t know a thing about them.”

He kissed me again and I completely forgot my next question. Instead, I finally pulled away and took a few shaky steps toward the door.

“I’m going to get dressed for dinner. I can’t think about this.”

“You have no choice. Your mind will not rest until you have come to some sort of a decision.”

I took another look at him standing there, tall, blue, and shimmering and had to turn away before I leapt into his arms again.

“I’m getting dressed for dinner,” I repeated.

“But you don’t eat.”

I waved off his comment and kept walking. I didn’t know what else to do. I also had no idea how to find my room. Before I could ask, Hud called after me, “Follow the incense. It will take you where you need to go.”

I followed the scent down several passages before finally stopping at a door. When I tried the lock it was open, so I stepped inside. The furnishings were posh to say the least. Everything was either silk, gold, or some type of precious stone. Silk pillows covered most of the floor. The bed sheets were what could best be described as an intense fuchsia with lots of gold and purple trimmings. The glass doors to the right of the bed were open. A cool breeze blew in from the balcony, causing the sheer curtains to part as if in invitation.

I was so caught up in observing my surroundings that I didn’t immediately notice the sound of running water. When I heard a door open behind me I jumped. A tall dark figure became visible through what looked like a thick fog. Steam rose around the figure. And as it cleared enough to reveal his chiseled hipbones, I recognized Morgan.

BOOK: Three Days of Night
7Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Perfect Timing by Spinella, Laura
His Kind of Trouble by Samantha Hunter
The Disappeared by M.R. Hall
Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith
Pursuit by Gene Hackman
Charlotte in New York by Joan MacPhail Knight
The Frenzy War by Gregory Lamberson