Sky Lord by Rowan Erlking (popular e readers TXT) 📖

several steps back then exited the room without further ado.

“I object!” Jonis’s voice suddenly cried out as briskly as he marched into the room. “Half that bounty should be mine. I was the one who informed the police of her approach. His trap would not have worked if I had not sent word.”

Tia heard the Patriarch moan. She looked up. The Patriarch’s hand crossed his brow. In fact, he was clenching his head as if it suddenly ached.

“Jonis Macoy,” the Patriarch said with another groan. “The bounty only goes to the person who brought her in. Regardless of your efforts or your prior claims, the bounty is his.”

Jonis glanced at Tia with a frown. “Then I object to this. Is that demon chain really necessary? She may be a demon, but she is not a dog.”

Raising his voice to a pitch of losing his patience, the Patriarch shouted, “It is most necessary! If she had been chained before, her escape would not have happened.”

“I think it still would have,” Jonis replied with a huff. He stuffed his hands under his arms. “The Underlord had her freed. They could have just as easily taken off the chain. Besides, it is absolutely insane that you have kept her alive at all. What do you presume to get for keeping a wanted killer in the capitol?”

Tia closed her eyes. It was the lawful sentence for what she had done. Was that what Jonis was thinking? He never did treat her as something less than human.

“That is my business alone,” the Patriarch said. His voice was grave and his tone was final.

Jonis bowed and stepped back immediately. “As you will, Your Grace.”

“Now leave her here with me,” the Patriarch said. “I will speak with the Sky Child alone.”

And everyone obeyed. Tia looked once as she saw Jonis cross to the door. He glanced up at her, staring her right in the eye with a grave look just before departing. The servants closed the doors, leaving only the leader of their land and herself alone.

 

Chapter Ten: The Patriarch

 

 

 

 

Pulling on a pair of thin gloves, the Patriarch lifted the chain from off the floor and loosened it somewhat from around her neck. Tia felt freer, but she eyed this sly man just at his middle age that peered down at her. His hand brushed her hair aside. He tilted her chin in his fingers and looked at each angle of her face, and then he gazed downward at her low neckline as well as her exposed thighs. He smiled.

He whistled from high to low. “Now, I never thought you would be so beautiful. But that choice of attire…. Are you trying to tempt me?”

Tia lowered her head.

“You are to always look me in the eye, unless I order otherwise,” the Patriarch suddenly snapped.

Tia looked up. His face stared firmly at hers. It was obvious he was not used to being contradicted or disobeyed. It was a wonder that Jonis dared it, but then he was not a mere man. A demon could not be expected to run by the rules of men.

The Patriarch reached over and rested his hand on her shoulder. “Now, you must tell me all you know about the Sky Lord and where he hid his treasure.”

All the memories and ideas she had stolen from others about the Sky Lord flooded back to her. So many were contradictory and none made real sense. She replied as the Underlord had. “I’ve heard many stories, most of which I do not know are true. I know nothing of myself.”

That did not satisfy him. He grabbed a fistful of hair, pulling her face towards his. “You lie! You were heading straight for the island where you were born!”

“I only knew that route from memories I borrowed. I tell you, I know nothing except from what others remembered being told.” She winced, feeling the ends of her hair pull out from her scalp.

“Memories you borrowed?” The Patriarch eased his grip on her hair and settled instead for grasping the back of her neck. The hair comb Lara had put in her hair to make it provocative fell to the floor. “Tell me about this. I have heard of the Sky Children’s gifts, but I have yet to know the full truth. You will tell me everything about you now.”

She knew there was no way she could deny him. Though death might be her end result, she knew from just looking at his intense gaze that he would not hesitate to torture her to get what he wanted. The Patriarchs were famous for that.

Trying hard not to avert her gaze no matter how much she didn’t want to look at him, Tia replied, “I can borrow three hours of a living creature’s life be he animal, human, or demon.”

His eyes grew larger, as did his interest. The man loosened his grip, placing that hand that held the bell on her knee then lowering the other to her back to hold her up. The chain was barely long enough to accommodate sitting straight.

“And what does that entail?” he asked, stroking his fingers cross her kneecap.

Tia had the spiteful urge to lean her face against his and suck him dry like she had done to the rapist, but she knew there no escape if she tried, though death might come swifter as punishment if she attacked him. Then perhaps death would come as relief.

She looked at his dark eyes and replied, “It means that I become that person in mind and body. I know what he knows, feels, and wants.”

The Patriarch stared at her. She could see the thoughts going though his head. He was not unlike the Underlord in manner, devious and a megalomaniac. The only difference was the Patriarch practically did own the world, whereas the Underlord attempted to usurp that power from underneath.

“And the Underlord used you to get this knowledge?” He seemed to follow her thoughts. The Patriarch smiled. “You must have been very handy to him. Now you will help me.”

“I don’t know where the Sky Lord’s treasure is,” Tia replied swiftly, her hands starting to shake.

That did not seem to bother him. He stood up, lifting the bell so she had to stand. “We can do the search together on that one. It was a long shot anyway.”

It was difficult for Tia to get back onto those heels, but she managed it.

“What I want,” he paused, gazing down at her neckline again, his chest heaving from heavy breathing, “is an alliance that can benefit the both of us.”

“A what?” Tia drew back, but stopped before the neck chain would choke her.

He stepped forward, drawing his other arm behind her again. His hand stroked her backside. “You work for me, and I will give you a life in luxury up here in the capitol. It is a simple agreement full of benefits.”

“For whom?” She stared at his lustful expression, feeling his gloves skirt against her skin as he lifted the edge of the dress slit somewhat.

He paused. “For the both of us.”

Fear settled deeper into her gut as the Patriarch leaned closer. The one hand that held the bell plucked at the top snap that kept her bodice closed. She shuddered.

“You don’t want to do that,” Tia said, fighting off her terror without success.

He peered down at her chest, but he pulled back. “I know. It is dangerous to touch. But if you agreed to work with me…if you saw the benefit of it for yourself, my dear, I do not think you would hesitate to join me.”

Tia still shook. He stroked her hair and touched her chin, lifting it higher. He leaned in and kissed her on the neck.

Her skin electrified, absorbing his thoughts as quickly as they had touched. His desires for glory and power flooded through her, showing her exactly what he offered her. It was not a meager bone either. Tia saw luxurious gowns, enormous sleeping chambers they would share, jewels and food of the most exquisite kinds. She would never be cold again, never be hungry again, and she would never want for physical company. That was his last offer. She would stand at his side as a mistress, regarded as a precious treasure.

He pulled back just a second after, somewhat winded. But he smiled, knowing she saw what he was thinking. “Think about it.”

Leading her by the chain, the Patriarch rapped on the door and handed the bell on the end to the servant waiting.

“Have her return tomorrow after a good night’s rest,” he said.

The servant bowed, leading Tia down the hall away from the advisory room.

She was dazed at first. Blinking, it was somewhat hard to regain her own thoughts. His desires and promises swam around her mind. Blinking again, she looked at the world around her once more, the promised future home.

The halls they passed through were just as luxurious as the ones up to the room they had just been in. Curtains hung down alongside frosted stained glass windows of rose and sky blue. The carpet was thick and soft under their feet. Pictures displaying pastures and nudes hung with lamps to accent the best parts. Guards in military uniforms stood at attention at each of the hall corners. Tia and the servant turned down and around other halls, leading to an upward stair set in a wide vestibule.

Two guards stood at attention on blocks at the junction opposite each other. Jonis leaned on the banister that led to the upstairs, picking underneath his fingernails with a knife he was holding. His gaze followed her and the servant all the way up the stair, not moving from his own spot. His look sent chills through her. Jonis’s eyes were intense and fixed. Leaving him behind, the servant led her down a narrower corridor.

Midway down the hall, the servant took her to a set of doors, rapping on them once with his knuckle. The servant had not looked at her the entire trip.

The two doors opened inward. Standing between them was a stern looking butler, buttoned up in navy blue all the way to his neck with a stiff collar.

“I will take her from here,” the butler said, receiving the bell on the chain from the servant’s hand.

Tia glanced back once, watching the servant trot back down the hall without even an answer.

“You will do as you are told with no back talk,” the butler said, lifting his chin high. He turned with a brisk spin as he led her over to a vanity and chair. He placed the bell on the vanity. “Sit.”

She sat.

He pulled down the cuffs of his uniform then adjusted his collar so it rested closer to his chin. Checking his gloves for any out of place thread, or perhaps an unsightly hole, he then reached down and unbuckled her arm straps. “You are not to move unless I tell you. You are not to touch anything unless I say so. Keep your arms still, and lower them when I take this off.”

She did as ordered, glancing over once to see whom would enforce his commands if she did not obey. The sting of an electric prod answered her, jabbing her back. Somehow it did feel like they