City of Empires(Book One in The Kindred Trials)

Chapter 1: Neola Baron

In the chill of the spring air she felt it. The same stir and fall of breath behind her. It was almost irritating. Why couldn't he be quiet? She pondered a thought in her head. One that was filled with a rich darkness of cold, accumulating cruelty. But it was also a question based on pure curiosity. One that had been answered before, though the question had been a bit different at the time. But now her mind craved a new idea. One filled with wicked glee and horror.

I wonder what it would feel like if I strangled him to death, she crooned inside her head. To feel his heart stop. To hear his struggle to breathe. He'll be panting like a dog. Dogs are foul. He is a dog.

Before, she had wondered what it would feel like to stab someone. More specifically, slashing their throats open with their own blade. She pulled her hand out from underneath her bed sheet and ran her fingertips along the smooth, cool skin on the curve of her bare shoulder. She continued rubbing her skin. She knew it was clear and sweet-scented. She always made sure to bathe in warm water with rose oil and a soap that would make her feel refreshing and vibrant. She took a luxury in her baths. Though she no longer felt dirty, she bathed every night.

The warmth of her bath from earlier still left her cheeks hot and rosy. She now ran her hand over her smioth cheeks, and the skin underneath her eyes. She remembered him touching her skin. Begging him to stop. The scratches and bruises and broken bones-

Mine.

The raspy voice, slurred from drink, rumbled in her ear again. She felt his hot, sour breath, and she remembered sweating from fear and panic. No. He would never pant on her like a dog again. He would not treat her like a dog. She was not his. He was dead. She was alive. She had killed him. Slit his throat open until she nearly cut off his doughy head. Suddenly, the sheets covering her were wet and sticky. They were covered in a scarlet shade of blood and the dark stains of alcohol. Suddenly, the comforting mattress was as hard as aluminum ground. Her wrists throbbed from being held too tightly.

Mine.

She could hear her pleas again. The smarting in her face from where he had hit her. She jerked, and he stirred behind her again. This time she felt him waking up. Her wide eyes returned to their normal size. They narrowed in boredom.

"Awake at this time of night, love?" His voice was rich and dark with lust. The desire from earlier made sharp thorns pierce her heart with bitterness. What did it matter to the fool whether she was awake or not? If anything, he owed her for making her wake up with his loud breaths and large form. Her bed felt smaller with him in it, but he looked better tangled in the bed sheets then on his cot in the guard's dorm. His cot reminded her of the old, lumpy bed on which she was forced to retreat to at night. Except that was long ago.

His large, warm hand roamed her stomach, and his fingers inched down towards her waist. She felt the callouses etched into his skin. These hands were strong and they could overpower her. Her left eye twitched at the thought of him holding her down. She slipped her own hand over his and slowly rolled into his arms. He immediately pulled her over him, holding her chin so he could kiss her. She let him. Axil was a good kisser. So was she. And she was also very, very fast.

Her hand reached for his knife, which was tucked underneath his pillow. She straddled him and pressed the knife to his jugular. He froze, his eyes widening. His full mouth was pressed into a firm line. She stared down into his face. That handsome, brooding expression. The light smirk that was ever present on his face. But when he was relaxed, or smiling, his expression was carefree and his eyes twinkled. She gazed down into those brown eyes. Such a delicious shade of chocolate she could melt into them if she wanted to. Those eyes were filled with warmth. Something she never received during her childhood.

The sheets fell around her waist. His gaze dropped low over her face. They ran over her torso and then even lower, to where her legs were on either side of him. His lips parted. She could hear his sharp intake of breath. Her beauty still blinded most of the men who walked around her. It made her sick to the stomach. She pressed the knife deeper into his skin until a thin crimson line appeared. He looked up at her and swallowed. The movement in his throat felt strange underneath the knife. He removed his hands from around her waist and covered her smaller hand with both of his larger ones.

"Go ahead," he whispered. "Only you could ever end my life, love."
The sincerity in his voice. That made her growl in annoyance. He had a nerve! But his vulnerability would be useful to her. He would be easier to manipulate whenever she wanted him to do something for her. She already had him wrapped around her finger. And in her bed. But he was faithful when others weren't. Perhaps keeping him around for a while longer wouldn't hurt. Especially with the challenging times up ahead. It was time to decide on a Ruler of Thrones. There were four large sectors divided in one whole city. Those sectors had to be combined into one whole Capital with only one.

Neola looked down at Axil. "Are you that exhausted that you're still in my room?"

Axil shook his head. Neola didn't like it when her men stayed until morning. Morning was only an hour away. She lowered her face closer to his and smiled. "Then what are you waiting for?"

"Forgive me, love. I did not mean to oversleep." He scrambled from undernearth her. She fell against his warm pillow and watched as he walked across the room to where his vest was lying. She watched with a hooded gaze as he pulled on his clothes, from his dark fatigues and to his T-shirt and the black jacket he wore.

She sat up and rose fron her bed. Then she strode across her room towards the dress already set out for her. She felt Axil's eyes on her as she slipped the dress over her head and the smooth silk fell around her naked legs.

"You...don't want anything?" Axil asked in a hushed voice. She smiled. She already had him enamored with her. This would be easy. He had a heart, but he would have no heart once she was through with him. All of her soldiers were emotionally paralyzed. They were designed for war, not for compassion and civilization. Axil was a high-ranking officer. If he wanted to be a captain he would have to listen to her.

The Seductress turned with a look of innocence on her doe-like face. She was pure, white beauty. She was the prey who had gone predator, and the soldier standing before her was her prey. One of the many more to still come.

"You aren't my mother. Do not ask if I need anything. When it is of your concern you will know. Now go back to your quarters, soldier. You wouldn't want another round of punishment, would you?"

He hissed. "No, my lady. I shall be returning to my quarters to avoid full punishment."

"But you will return at midday for our meeting with the others," she said. Saying competitors or candidates made her seethe in anger.

"Yes, my lady." He gave a bow with his eyes focused straight ahead.

"Good," Neola murmured as Axil turned on his heel and left her room. "I have a feeling you will be needed during that meeting."

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So, how's summer? Boring, fun, I just live on Wattpad? Leave a like if you're kind of liking the story.

-Cheshire