The young peasant woman watched as the Queenâs procession seemed to glide down the dirt pathway. Her conveyance was the burden of eight oiled and muscled eunuch slaves, working in unison, their flesh rippling with accustomed exertion. The white gauze to protect their fair Mistress from the blazing sun, twisted in a flirtatious dance billowing out about them.
Well manicured fingers grasped the swirling whiteness that surrounded her haven and pulled it back to gaze at her offerings with flashing eyes. She found that bright green eyes met hers unflinchingly. There was awe in those pooled depths, but no fear. A smile curved her brightly painted mouth. Yes, she was the one.
The young woman was startled to look up and find herself gazing into the Queenâs eyes. She found that she could not look away, the opalescent stare captured her so completely. She trembled as the Queenâs mouth pulled away from her sharp teeth in what could only be called the smile of a predator. The woman wondered if this was to be her last breath for her disrespect.
An elegantly formed pale arm motioned for her to come near. The woman walked, gracefully barefooted, to where the Queen motioned.
âDo you know what it is, to be the Queenâs favorite?â Her voice was melodic, entrancing, stealing her will.
The woman shook her luxurious golden tresses in denial.
âIf you would but show me.â She said defiantly, shrugging off her filth as if she were royalty herself.
The Queen saw the fire of her spirit, and the desire to break it coiled in her belly with the burning hunger only known to the damned. Her incisors peaked at the thought, pricking her own tongue, drawing blood.
âWhat is your name?â she demanded.
âI am called Kiernan, your Majesty.â The peasant answered.
âKiernan.â The name rolled off of her tongue as honey. âKiernan, are you promised?â
âI am promised to the temple.â Kiernan replied with disgust.
âNo longer. You will come with me.â She pulled aside the gauzy whiteness further to allow Kiernan admission to her pillowed Eden.
Kiernan was lifted up by one of the tanned eunuchs, his large browned hands encircling the smallness of her waist, to take her place amongst the silk. The Queen leaned over her, pushing her tresses from her face. A long white finger trailed a path down her cheek, brushing lightly over her full lips, trailing down her neck, following the path of her carotid artery down, then coming to cup the curve of her full breast.
âYes, I think that you will do nicely.â
Kiernan shivered as perfect fingers caressed her flesh and she unwittingly arched into the touch. A burning serpent coiled between her thighs, ready to strike.
âIs this what it is, to be the Queenâs favorite?â Kiernan asked, her words thick, as desire dripped from every syllable.
Unearthly, but ultimately feminine laughter carried on the slight breeze. âThere is so much more.â
The Queen lay back against the masses of silk, her raven hair fanning out about her, bringing midnight to the brightness of the day. She motioned airily and the conveyance began to move steadily toward the rising towers in the distance.
Kiernan could not stop staring at the dark goddess. The perfect rigidity of her ethereal countenance splashed with the voluptuous red plumpness of lips that bespoke life and death entranced her completely. She found herself again staring into eyes that mirrored the ocean, sparkling as if the sun reflected in their eternal depths. Kiernan cast her eyes downward. A gentle hand stroked the curve of her cheek.
âBefore this night is through, your eyes will not paint me with such light.â The Queen whispered into the delicate shell of Kiernanâs ear.
Kiernan shuddered as the warmth of the Queenâs breath danced across her skin. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
âWhat do you want, little Kiernan?â The melodious voice mocked her.
âI want to serve my Queen.â
âAre you so eager then, to serve the Night? Do you not fear death?â The lush lips brushed against her ear and her throat, a delicate contrast to the sharp words they spoke, sending shivers down her spine.
Arienneâs eyes feasted upon the bounty splayed before her. She could scent the desire screaming from the warm flesh. Her rushing blood was a cacophony of temptation, echoing, deafening in her sensitive ears. How eager this she seemed to serve her Queen, to know the forbidden touch of her own.
Arienne knew that after the sun fell to rest below the sky, that the younger woman would hate her, she would hate with the same burning passion that was now adoration. But the sadness of age and the finality of death would never touch the spun halo of her golden hair. The creeping rot that was time would never leave its mark burned into her soft sun-kissed skin. She would stay thus, for eternity.
Her knowing mouth came to rest softly on Kiernanâs lips. She eased Kiernanâs mouth open, guiding her tongue inside to taste her. Arienne felt hands taut with tension entwine into her masses of hair and urge her closer.
Arienne wrapped her own arms around Kiernan and deepened the kiss, their tongues parrying and thrusting in mimic of coitus. Her hands traveled the arched invitation of Kiernanâs body, sliding across the roundness of hip she so coveted. The thrust of her incisors piercing the supple flesh of her lip shocked Arienne into pulling away.
âMajesty?â A dazed Kiernan questioned, her eyes half lidded- smoky with unfulfilled desire.
âWe have arrived.â Arienne replied airily. She took one last look at Kiernan, savoring the innocence.
A servant kneeled in front of the conveyance, and Arienne stepped down onto his back, and down to the well- woven carpet the was laid before the massive stone doors. With a dismissive waive of her hand, the doors opened into a great hall.
Kiernan was wide-eyed as she was led into the lavishness of the hall. Its massive pillars rose hundreds of feet into the cathedral-like ceiling and finely spun tapestries of crimsons and purples hung , heralding the show of wealth that was to come. Rows of heavy hand-carved tables were laden with untouched fruits and meats, the scents tantalizing her empty stomach.
A goblet of blown glass was thrust into her grasp by unseen hands. The liquid was dark and rich and the goblet was warm in her hands. She held the heady ambrosia to her lips and downed the richness with one burning swallow. The heat spread down through her body, running through her veins like liquid gold. A dizziness grasped at her consciousness; pulling her down into the darkness, cradling her in its shadow. She felt strong hands grasp her before the impact of stone floor.
Night had fallen when Kiernan extracted herself from induced rest. She lay in a soft bed amidst an oasis of overstuffed pillows. A candelabra of brightly burning candles sat on the table next to the bed, and a fire burned in the great blackened hearth. And next to the fire a porcelain bathing tub had been left for her, its contents steaming, filling the room with the scent of rose petals.
Kiernan sighed, staring longingly at the bath. Her limbs were still heavy and warm, and the soft bed bade her to keep her place. She felt the unseen hands glide across her flesh again, guiding her, pulling her to the bath. Kiernan allowed the alien touch to bid her where it would and the gently burning warmth increased in its pleasure and intensity as she followed its whim.
She sank into the luxuriously heated water; the hands continuing their task on her scalp, scrubbing and massaging. The unseen touch finished with her hair and began on her arms, the water following an unknown will; soothing and soft.