Wicked Magik: A Frankenstein Reimagining, page 12
“Heard that monster was wandering around here a few weeks ago. Be careful where you travel,” one merchant said, who sold some of the finest cloth.
I hummed and continued to feel the material on my exposed wrist.
“You know what I’m talking about right? That thing that runs around with a skull attached, tail like a dragon? It’s an abomination I tell you. I saw it eating the carcass of a dead animal on the side of the road. It had red eyes and…”
A woman scoffed beside me. “Did not Harold, you stretch the truth. It has no eyes. You leave it alone, and it leaves you alone. You all are a bunch of gossipers.”
My lip quirked to a smile underneath my mask.
“Says the old crazy lady witch of the town. Don’t you have somewhere to be? You reek of sage.”
She stuck up her nose and put her hand on her hip. “He’s got a good soul in him. If I ever see him and any of you messin’ with him,” she pointed to the people that had gathered around us, “I’ll put a spell on you meself!”
The crowd erupted in laughter as I tossed a gold coin to the merchant for the red velvet fabric. I wasn't sure what I'd use it for yet, but it appeared luxurious, and I was confident Benedict could create something with it.
As I walked away, they all talked about Oryx like he was a monster, and he partly was but there were a few that stood up for him.
I inhaled deeply and parked the recently acquired carriage. I had turned into, what was it called? A shopaholic after listening to Oryx in his den. I purchased new fabric to make clothes for him, new blankets, and other essentials he might need.
While I had been distant with him, I knew I had to make it up to him now. He was changing, just as Benedict had told me.
Perhaps I could talk to him more plainly.
Or teach him, you fool.
But it wasn’t just the markets that took me so long, but the graveyards as well. I went around not just the closest town but towns further away to avoid suspicion. I can conjure some parts of the bodies. I was getting better, but some things I couldn’t do on my own.
And I needed to work faster.
I tugged on the reins, bringing the horses to a stop. The sound of their hooves brought Benedict out of the mansion, his sleeves rolled up and a cloth in hand as he dried them.
“My Lord, I know nothing about horses.” His shoulders slumped in dismay as he threw the towel over his shoulder.
I stepped down from my seat and heard the gravel beneath my feet. “You won’t have to. I’ve hired simple stablemen looking for work. They will be coming to the Estate shortly. I’ll need the servant quarters cleaned.”
Hiring vampires to work with any sort of animal was unheard of. They could go into a hunger frenzy and drink the blood of anything that has a heartbeat.
I was close to finishing a self-replenishing blood source that could satisfy and sustain vampires.
This innovation alone made them eager to work for me. Many vampires direly needed employment and a place to belong. Having been outcasts since their downfall centuries ago, it was time for these new generations to escape the burdens of their ancestors' past.
Benedict opened and closed his mouth. “You aren’t going to revive the others?”
I cleared my throat. "It takes time. I've preserved their parts to prevent further decomposition, but I need to learn how to properly..." My mind went blank when I noticed Benedict's forearm. The threads I'd sewn into his skin were no longer visible. Only faint lines remained around his wrists. Actually... there was hardly any line left at all.
I seized his arm with a vice-like grip and yanked it toward me, my eyes narrowing into slits of suspicion. "What’s this? Did you go to someone?" I growled, my voice dripping with venom. My lip curled into a feral snarl as my free hand clamped around his throat, fingers digging in mercilessly. With a forceful shove, I slammed him against the unforgiving stone wall.
He hiccupped and grasped my hand. “M-my Lord. Don’t kill me again!”
My eyes widened and I let go, which caused Benedict to fall to the ground. I stepped away and gazed down at my gloved hand.
Benedict got on his knees and pulled at my trousers. “My Lord, I’m sorry. I did not mean to remind y…”
I shook my head, my hair falling over my face. "It's okay, I startled you. Here, let me help." I helped him to his feet, trying to quell the mix of anger and curiosity inside me. "What happened? Did a witch spin some magik thread? Did it pull your skin together?"
If it did, that would solve everything. At the night markets there were no magik stalls that had anything with magik thread. Surely you would think a seamstress witch would create such a thing.
Benedict bit his bottom lip. “No, not a witch. Did you see the courtyard?” He opened up his arms wide and walked away from me. He turned in a circle. “Isn’t it wonderful? The flowers will bloom better with…”
I snarled. “You are stalling. Don’t test my patience.”
Benedict shrugged. “Worth a shot. Oryx has a friend.” He winked obnoxiously.
I wrinkled my nose. “A friend? What sort of friend? Since when does Oryx have a friend other than me?”
Benedict shook his head. “Ha? You a friend? Since I’ve been back you’ve hardly said two words to the creature. Surely you didn’t think he would want to be alone forever.”
“I’m protecting him. Making sure he doesn’t get… Damn it, Benedict. Who healed your arm? Was it a witch?”
Benedict crossed his arms, he raised one and sighed delightfully onto his hand. “She might be. Or maybe a siren. Lately I’m thinking she is an incubus because…”
"That's enough!" I shouted. "Grab the bags, and be cautious with the dirty ones; you know where they go." I stormed away from him and shoved the door to the mansion open.
What in the Under Shadows was he talking about? Oryx has someone? As I rushed up the stairs and stopped midway.
The night I was outside his room. He wasn’t alone then.
A seething, jealous rage consumed me, burning like a wildfire within. I felt the raw energy of my magik surge down my arms, crackling at my fingertips with a tingling intensity.
With a swift swipe through the air, a wave of power rippled outward, causing every painting along the wall to tilt askew, as if an invisible hand had disturbed them. The fire lights flickered and dimmed, casting long shadows that danced across the hallways. My snarl, deep and resonant, filled the space, echoing as fiercely as Oryx’s defiant roar.
As I approached his room, the double doors swung open on their own. Upon entering, I noticed the room was dimly lit, filled with his familiar scent mixed with something else. The aroma drifted into my nostrils and settled in my lungs, a blend of lavender and honeysuckle washing over my lifeless skin.
It felt like a warm blanket that warmed this rotting body the further in the room I entered.
A candle sat on the side table. Oryx’s form, back facing me, was breathing in deeply, snoring.
No chains were on his ankles to keep him in bed. He was sleeping peacefully.
I stood observing Oryx's chest gently rise and fall with each deliberate breath. In the flickering candlelight, his skull and body appeared almost peaceful, a sharp contrast to the creature he had turned into. The soothing aroma of lavender and honeysuckle filled the air, bringing me a sense of calm.
I shook my head.
My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I tried to make sense of the situation. Who could possibly have this effect on Oryx? And why was he allowing someone into his inner sanctum now, after all this time? A surge of possessiveness and protectiveness washed over me, clashing with the confusion swirling in my mind.
I took a hesitant step closer to his bed, my eyes never leaving his peaceful form. He was curled up into a ball, his tail wrapped around him tightly. I stepped forward once more and when I found myself on the other side of the bed to see his face, the warmth I felt on my skin vanished.
He was curled around a female. She was smiling slightly, nuzzling her forehead against his. A smile played on her lips.
What. Is. This?
My eyes widened and turned black with rage.
I had been a fool to leave Oryx for so long. A fool to not see that this she-demon was living in my home. Her scent that permeated the air filled my lungs again. I covered my nose to keep her scent away.
Poison.
“My Lord…” Benedict entered the room.
“Don’t!” I hissed and pointed at him. “You should have told me. Told me that this she-demon has come into my home, corrupted Oryx.”
“She has done nothing, she’s been nothing but…”
“She has POISONED YOU!” I snarled.
With that shout the woman’s eyes fluttered open and she tried to pull away from the massive cocoon that Oryx had surrounded her with but instead he pulled her closer.
“Mine,” Oryx nuzzled into her hair.
No.
I felt my magik rise and fill the room. Benedict backed away and watched as black shadows filled the room.
I clenched my fists, the dark magik shadows swirling around me as I glared at the woman entwined with Oryx. She looked up at me, her eyes widening in fear as she tried to untangle herself from his grasp. But Oryx only held onto her tighter, a possessive growl rumbling in his chest.
"How dare you attempt to take what is mine?" I snarled, my voice reverberating through the room with an eerie power. The shadows swirled around me, ready to heed my every command.
The woman gasped, clearly sensing the danger that surrounded us. Oryx's grip on her softened slightly, as if he could sense the threat emanating from me.
But it was too late for her.
I would not have her here any longer.
As I raised my hand to unleash the full extent of my power, a voice called out from behind me.
"My Lord, please, do not harm her," Benedict pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. But I paid him no mind as I focused all of my energy on the woman before me.
With a swift motion, I unleashed a wave of darkness towards her, intending to banish her from this plane forever. But before it could reach her, Oryx stood and let out a deafening roar that shook the very foundation of the room, my shadows dropped to the floor and scattered beneath the cracks.
"No!" he bellowed, his body now in his defensive stance. The force of his voice pushed back against my magic, creating a barrier between me and the woman.
I took a step back, stunned by Oryx's sudden defiance. He had never challenged me like this before, never dared to stand in the way of what I wanted.
"Oryx..." I whispered, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. The woman seized this opportunity to slip out of his grasp and scurry away, disappearing into the shadows of the room.
Silence descended upon us as Oryx turned to face me fully, his expression unreadable. For a moment, we simply stood there, two beings bound by magik.
Then, without a word spoken between us, Oryx extended a clawed hand towards me. And in that simple gesture, I knew everything had changed.
Chapter 17
Vesper
Smoke curled and twisted upwards from the cracks in the floor, snaking its way around the man’s silhouette. He was dressed in a sleek, midnight-black three-piece suit, meticulously tailored to embrace his form like a second skin. The fabric clung tightly around his body, emphasizing his lean physique. His hair, a striking cascade of white as long as my own, whipped about his face in wild disarray, having escaped the confines of a once-secure hair tie. It framed his features dramatically, contrasting sharply with the dark ensemble he wore.
His eyes, dark obsidian, twinkled in the lightning that flashed in the room.
Oryx looked over his shoulder at me. His tail swung and nudged me to stay behind him.
Yeah, no problem.
The man's lip curled upward into a smile, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth that gleamed under the light. His complexion was strange, a light shade of gray with perhaps a subtle hint of blue, reminding me of the pallor of a corpse. It added an unsettling aura to his presence.
Despite this, his features were undeniably handsome. A charm that was both alluring and downright dangerous.
Oryx's fur bristled as his back arched and his claws came out. I sensed danger; the man posed a threat, and I retreated deeper into the shadows.
“Oryx?” The man whispered again, his hair falling around his chiseled face.
Oryx continued to growl, becoming even more ferocious as snarls and drool pooled on the floor. He was consumed by the same intense fury I had witnessed when he had attacked the humans weeks earlier.
I stepped forward and put a hand on his back, only then did he slightly relax but there was no change in his stance.
The shadows then engulfed the man and within a blink of an eye, the warlock creature was gone.
Oryx turned suddenly and enveloped me in his powerful arms, pulling me close to his chest. His tail coiled around us like a protective barrier, its smooth texture pressing gently against my back. He inhaled deeply, as if savoring the moment, drawing in the scent of our closeness.
“You hurt?” His tongue swept across my neck and paused right over my jugular. Oryx was breathing hard, and his dick was pressed right up against me.
I swallowed. “I’m fine, but who was that?”
Oryx growled. “My Lord. Lord Veylor. My creator.”
My head reared back but Oryx kept his body wrapped around me.
“He will not take you from me. He has no right, you are mine.”
I pursed my lips together. “You didn’t tell me he was a full blown magik guy. Is he a warlock or something? How exactly were you created?”
Oryx grunted and held me tighter.
“Don’t know exactly. A fae, but more. He can wield magik, but more than an average warlock.”
I felt a mix of revulsion and uncertainty. This Lord treats Oryx as if he’s insignificant, yet insists on keeping him close. I overheard him accusing me of poisoning Oryx and trying to take him away. But away from what, really? A life of being lonely, bedridden, and shackled to a wall? I couldn't decide if I was doing the right thing.
The need to protect Oryx from this douchebag was soaring by the minute.
Oryx hummed, his tongue still wrapped around my neck. His stomach rumbled and I stiffened in his arms. Along with dealing with this Lord, I also needed to emotionally take care of Oryx like he has taken care of me.
He’s done more for me than anyone else has– besides my mother. He feeds, protects and cuddles me. More affection than I have ever received in my life, I’d even say he’s my best friend. I welcomed him all too quickly but I think it is because we both hated to be alone.
Oryx’s stomach rumbles again but he ignores it. His tongue again swipes around my neck. He’s hungry, and he hasn’t been out to get more blood. Benedict can’t hunt, he’s only a fae, or so he says. Who really knows because Oryx is clueless.
“Are you hungry, Oryx?” I pulled my head back and his tongue let go of my skin.
He purred and shook his head.
I raised a brow. “You didn’t eat the past two meals because you are out of animal's blood, so be honest. Remember this trust we are building?”
Oryx jerked his head back in surprise. “Are you wanting to feed me?”
Damn him and reading my mind.
“I’m sorry, pet, I just, you are loud right now. I have been trying my best.”
And he has. Oryx says he can usually block me out, and I’m trusting that means he’s keeping my thoughts out. But with how angry I am about Lord Veylor and him…I’m probably shouting in his mind.
“Yes, I’m thinking about it. You won't go hunting without me will you?” Because Oryx has attachment issues. It’s gotten worse. He wants to sit beside me while I pee now. He’s even in the bathroom with me while I bathe and now he wants to bathe me like I am his pet.
Which is concerning. Something was wrong.
With Veylor here and his desire to kill me, things were bound to deteriorate. I couldn't resolve the issue with Veylor now, but ensuring he was fed would have to suffice.
Oryx shook his head. “When I drank human blood, I did not eat for four days. Animal blood I must drink often.”
I hummed and twirled my finger around his long locks of hair. How should we approach this?
Oryx opened his jaw. The vampiric fangs inside were small compared to his massive bull headed skull. “I bite? I’ll be gentle.”
Flashes of how he was in fact, not gentle sprung up into my mind when we first met.
He shook his head. “I was bloodthirsty, I couldn’t control… I can control it now, my pet. I want my fangs in your skin.”
I swallowed, and a tingle between my legs nearly made me gasp.
“You like that?” His chest rumbled. “For me to bite you, and feed?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. "I have no idea why." My face flushed with warmth. "The concept is fascinating. I've read plenty of vampire stories, but I never imagined they could be real."
Oryx rubbed his snout across my neck. “I will not drink much. I don’t need much, just enough to fill the bottom of my stomach. My tongue will seal the wound.”
I pushed away from him. “Have you done this before? How do you know this will all work?”
He tilted his head. “I don’t know how I know, I just know.”
Wow, that’s comforting.
He shakes his head, his hair flying in all directions. “I don’t do it unless you are comfortable. I will take you into the woods with me while I hunt. I will not leave you with—”
“A compromise,” interrupted. “Not that I don’t trust you, but for the first time let’s do it on my wrist.” The idea of doing it on my neck turned me on way too much and it was such a vulnerable position. Not to mention… intimate. I may even consider it as intimate as sex. “But if we do this, I want to talk to Veylor.”
He growled. “No. He tried to hurt you.”
Aw, how cute he thinks he’s going to win.
“Pet. No.”
I tickled under his chin, kissed his snout, and cleared my mind. “I thought my Orie was hungry?”
