A Song of Flame & Shadow - Eris x OC

Eris's Room II

Vel could barely hold his stare as his eyes devoured her whole. "Don't get too distracted, prince," she teased. Eris' smile was half feral.

"The night is young, my lady," Eris drawled. "The power has waited many years to switch to me. It can wait a few more hours, or a few more nights if you so desire."

Despite the thickness of the air between them, Vel snorted. "I am no lady." Indeed, the sound that came out of her would have been uncouth for a lady. She wholly ignored the rest of Eris' words, to his chagrin. Outside, the sky opened and the rain started pouring. Neither of them made a move to close the window. Drops of water splattered against the stone bricks and the walnut window sill.

Lightning flashed, the eerie glow gilding Eris' features. He was much more handsome than she recalled. Although, muddled by Faebane, her memories from her time in the Autumn Court were hazy at best. His dark red hair was slightly longer, reaching just past his chin and framing those proud cheekbones and square jaw of his. His features were indeed those of a prince – an arrogant male who took what he wanted, whatever the cost. He had the scars to prove it. But his eyes of molten gold told a different story. The warmth in his gaze was the same she remembered. The eyes were those of a dreamer, of a male who longed for a better life for his court. Yet the intensity of his stare was entirely new to her, like standing too close to a raging fire.

Eris was beautiful in a wild, unyielding way - a mountain lion surveying his territory. She wondered if he would ravage her so thoroughly that she would forget her own name or if he would make love to her slowly, taking his time to worship at the altar of her body. She had vowed to herself to not get involved with High Lords and their heirs in that way. It was too dangerous a game to play and could only lead to problems further down the road.

The booming thunder pulled Vel away from her wanton thoughts of Eris. The male smirked brazenly, no doubt sensing her arousal. Her nostrils flared, the only sign of her annoyance - with herself or with Eris, she wasn't quite sure. She would yet gain the upper hand in this little dance.

"Pay attention, Eris darling," she purred his name "If you are a good, obedient male, I might consider your proposal". She pointed to the white mark between her breasts and didn't give him time to decide if he should be turned on or outraged by her statement.

Vel took a deep breath and touched the scar. When her finger moved away, what looked like a bright orange string followed it. It was made of fire, ebbing and flowing, still connected to her chest and growing into her outstretched palm. The flames swirled and grew until the fire became the size of an egg. Inside, a dark, crackling ember, scarred with golden veins. The core was snapping and cracking, sending sparks into the surrounding air. Her blood thrummed in tandem with the pull of this ancient power, the flames like a heartbeat.

"The Aether. A dangerous trick, to make it materialize like this," she mumbled, focused on the flames in her hand, "power is unstable outside the body." The flames had grown big enough that she had to close both hands around them. Sparks still slipped through her fingers as she brought the core towards her and pressed it back through the mark. A small grunt escaped her lips and the fire and its molten core were gone as if they never were.

"Inside the body of an heir, this kernel feeds on his power. And once it is strong enough it will start siphoning the power of the High Lord. The process is always different, it can take weeks, months or years until the heir surpasses his predecessor. There is one thing that is always the same. Once I give this to you," she motioned from her tattoo upwards to her neck and then touched her lips "it will cause a shock to your body. You will be awfully sick for some days."

Eris' eyes lingered on her lips. "If you wanted to kiss me so badly you should have just said so, love," he replied, a feline smirk on his face.

Vel's eyes narrowed. "On second thought, perhaps I'll shove it through your skin. It will be a hell of a lot more painful for you and much more entertaining for me." Eris dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"A few days abed seems like an awfully small price to pay to become the most powerful being in the Autumn Court. I am still convinced there must be a catch somehow," his amber eyes bore into hers, "what is it that you're not telling me?"

"Don't take this lightly," she warned. "Your body would not be able to handle the power by itself. It would eat you from the inside out and you would wither away and die." Vel pulled out a vial from a small pouch on her belt. "This potion is infused with my blood. It will give you strength and heal you faster than the Aether can devour you. With this you would only be sick instead of dying," she paused for a moment before adding, "and it will also wipe all your recent memories of me, a side effect and safety precaution."

Eris sneered. "You could've started with that and saved us both some time. I am not taking your potion."

"Then you would die," she said simply, as lightning lit up the sky. She laid the vial down in her lap and covered it with her hands in case Eris might grab it and shatter it against the wall. "But I wouldn't give you the Aether if you didn't promise to take the potion. You saw with your own eyes what happened because Beron recognized me."

"How dare you compare me to him?" Thunder boomed in tandem with his voice. Eris was seething. The flames in the hearth flared and the drops of water that entered the room fizzled and evaporated. Vel had no shield up but felt no heat, apart from the one in his glare. Even in his rage, Eris wouldn't hurt her.

"What do you think will happen, Eris?" She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "What do you think will happen centuries from now, when I come to one of your heirs? Do you think you will welcome me with open arms, knowing that I am an omen of death for you? Will you not hunt me down and kill me before I even step foot in your court?"

Eris sighed and seemed to rein his emotions in. The rain had pooled on the oak ledge and was now dripping down onto the plush carpet below. He turned away from her, got up, and reached to close the window. "I am not him," he said, his back towards her, "and I am not taking your potion" he repeated. He sat back in his chair, his face unreadable. "I will become stronger, gather allies, and kill my father without your help. I will remember what he did to you, what he has done to so many. Then, when you have to come back here, to choose the new High Lord, you will have no choice but to agree to my terms and I will not drink your absurd potion."

"You would go through all that effort to die a painful death at the hands of the Aether?" Vel was incredulous. What an arrogant, bullheaded bastard.

"I would go through all that effort to remember you, Vel," Eris said. He leaned forward and took one of her hands in his. "And when you come for my heirs centuries from now, I will be glad to see you again."