Whispered Revelations

By Jess Thomas

Darius, once a lowly slave and whipping boy for his evil adopted father, had his life forever altered when he discovered the Dagger of Destiny in a cave coming back from a battle campaign. Suddenly he and his adopted brothers, Cas and Garrick, have been carried onto a beautiful world where he found Finnal, the man that is the love of his life. But the planet's beauty hides a dark and violent past. The path that destiny holds for Darius and his family is paved with danger, love, laughter, and tears.

This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences of 18+ ONLY. It deals with male on male relationships and violence both real and inferred.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jess Thomas
• Release date: Mar 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370501700

Book preview

The Chronicles of Darius

Book 3:

A Novel By 

Jess Thomas

Cover Design By

Jess Thomas

copyright 2015

Introduction

In the darkness of a cave, coming back from a dusty campaign in the desert on Earth, I’d found a dagger. It had called to me, and I crawled over windswept bones and tried to reach it. Those events seem so long ago. It was a place forgotten now that I was in my new home of Eiravia, full of green grass and trees. I’d become immortal on that night, or at least headed down that path as something new. It seems so fantastic and strange, coming from a world that seems primitive now. It should have been something I backed away from the cave and dagger in fear. Yet I didn’t. I needed to experience it. I heard the music when no one else did because although I didn’t know it yet, I was destined for greatness.

You would think being a prince would be a good thing, but it wasn’t. I had been brought to the palace to be a slave, and my adopted brothers Garrick and Cas had no knowledge of it. They didn’t see the extra clothing, and they bought into the stories that I fell off horses and got hurt.

I was twenty, and although they loved me, they could never comprehend the bruises that often adorned my body. But they loved me nevertheless, and when I became immortal, so did they. Unfortunately, so did my stepfather, one that I wish the fates had left alone. He was a cruel man who, in one way or another, controlled Cas, Garrick, and myself in endless torment.

We were thrown into a world that was so farfetched no one would believe it. It was on Earth where Garrick, my middle brother, would finally find the love of his life. He met a Celtic swordmaster, named Ray when she accompanied Chin-Me, a wizard from a far off world, A Eiravian, destine to help me prepare for a new chapter in our lives. Ray was named by her family because her hair color that reminded them of the red rays of a beautiful sunset. Her long, red hair hung down to her tiny hips. She could be the warrior that Garrick needed, and he instantly fell in love with her. Did I know Chin-Me wasn’t from Earth? The answer is, who would think something like that? My other protector was an old priest by the name of Tasar, who had a touch of magic in him, and I guess for a human, quite a bit. Together they would bring us to our new home of Eiravia, a beautiful planet of steep hills and valleys.

It was a planet devoid of a race of people. It had a dark history, full of wars, and a darkened trail to destruction. I was schooled in the ways of those who would become my family and my clan.

I had no idea how far my life was going to go. I’d always tried to get up onto the roofs of tall buildings on Earth, where I’d call out, Find me! Ever since I can remember, I have pleaded for someone to save me. I thought it was just an escape from my life at the palace and my stepfather. 

Now my first protectors would be Cas and Garrick, my adopted brothers. The magic of the dagger had created a bond with Garrick so he could hear my thoughts, and Cas became sensitive to the way I looked and if I needed help. It was magic the dagger bestowed on the three of us, and one that later on I learned was a gift to protect me.

Once I stepped onto my new planet’s home, I was surprised to see our horses transform into the most stunning people I’d ever seen. They didn’t look much older than I did. Eiravia called to me; the sounds of the birds touched my heart, and the tall man named Finnal, made me want to plead to be his. My family walked ahead of us, and I wanted to yell in my excitement. Here was a place I could finally be happy. I observed Finnal turn around, his amber eyes shining, and I knew he was saying something. I just couldn’t get it together enough to say anything intelligent. He’s so tall, I thought, watching him walk ahead of me. So handsome, I mused. I knew this was where I always needed to be. A planet, solar systems away from Earth, and this was where I needed to be. It seems crazy, doesn’t it? I needed the warrior in front of me. My Finnal, my Fin, he would be mine. I just had to have hope.

That was years ago. Finnal had taken me to be his yonggone, with the mark and the bond a connection that allowed him to hear my thoughts. Since they were immortal, the elder was the one to take care of the yonggone in the relationship. It was, steeped in Eiravian tradition and one thought of with great importance.

However, just like sand in an hourglass, it tends to trickle out. Even if you are immortal, things happen to you. I was introduced to a race called the Cold Ones when I explored an empty part of the palace. I had no idea that something so vile could exist, and my family had no idea there was a Cold One left in the Chamber of Time. I think I depended more on Finnal and my family now. I needed their strength, their love, and the idea that Finnal and my family were going to be there standing behind me for support.

The mere mention of the Cold Ones made me shiver, and now I was going to have to deal with one again because it was inside me waiting to come out, and only I had the power to deal with it. My lover held me wanting to go inside the room with me as needed support. My family, both those from Earth and those here, looked sick at what I had to do. My only joy about the situation was that I wouldn’t have to deal with my stepfather again; he was on Earth and told to stay there forever. So now, we are caught up with the events that are happening at this very moment.

An event that shaped me and created who I am, another dab of clay to a sculpture, and it didn’t matter if I wanted it to or not.

I moved into a yellow room with a cold-blooded killer inside of me. I was instructed to calm down that I needed to get the creature out of me what a horrible race.

The Cold Ones were the parasites of the universe, and I crinkled my nose at the thought of them. The more I learned about their race, the more I despised them. They destroyed so many planets, and alien races, for power and the taste of blood. Now I had one in me. That thought alone made me scream to get it out. The notion that it could use me as a weapon to destroy my planet terrified me. I had no choice but to fight it. It wasn’t just for my life, but for everyone I loved. One day, I’d make their race pay for what they had done to the universe, and the races they had destroyed.

First, I needed to survive this trial to see another day. I looked down at the piece of paper Chin-Me and Tasar had handed me, rubbing my finger over the words before saying the little chant. For a few seconds, nothing happened, and I had the foolish hope that there wasn’t anything in me until my back arched in pain.

When it came out of me, my shirt billowed out, and I fell to my knees in shock. I knew this wasn’t just any Cold One. No, I was the lucky one who got something so deplorable that even its race was afraid of it. They called it The Bloody One and the name fit. The blood of aliens covered its deformed white skin. Its pink eyes focused on me, and I wanted to lose myself in happier times.

Finnal! I called out, alarmed. I listened to him tell me to be strong. I stood up, with the thought of what was going to happen in the next few minutes. If nothing else, I knew I’d been loved.

I’m here, babe, Finnal’s voice said in my head. We’ll do this together.

This Cold One made the other one seem easy. It was nasty. It showed everyone I loved, frozen, and dead as I screamed in pain. It took everything away from me, all love, home, family, and left me with nothing. I was alone, just like when I was on the streets of Earth. I could still hear Garrick and Finnal tell me that it was okay and that it was just a trick. I closed my eyes, trying to get it together again.

In truth, I don’t know what I’d do if I were alone. Oh hell, who am I kidding; I’d fade away in misery and despair. I couldn’t handle it again, I’d dealt with it on Earth, and it had left a deep scar that I don’t believe can be healed. I watched as another nightmare crept up to me, its foul-smelling breath drifted into the room. I shouted, as it watched, laughing, it delighted in showing me the horrors of what a Cold One could do. If I survive you, I said, trying to get it together again, your race is in trouble.

Oh, do tell, it sneered, throwing me against the wall once more. I’ve destroyed planets. Do you honestly think you will survive?

Chapter One

The Bloody One;

A Cold One with an Icy Heart

Today wasn’t going to be my day. Most didn’t survive Cold Ones, and this one was one of the worst of their vile race. It took everything virtuous until it was dark and twisted. It cackled as I screamed. I knew I needed to get it out of me, what I didn’t understand, was why things like this always happened to me over and over again.

 If there was a dark to the light, The Bloody One was darkness. The only light I had to hold onto was the fact that I could hear both Finnal and Garrick, telling me it was going to be okay. Thank the gods for our connections, and the flickers of love that I could grasp tight to.

Get him out of there, Begrat. This one is worse than the one before! My adopted brother yelled.

He grabbed Begrat’s shirt and pushed him toward the yellow room. It won’t work, Begrat moaned, as he pulled himself out of Garrick’s frantic grasp.

Leave my yonggone alone! Finnal cried. My lover was frantic, feeling my fear and wishing he was with me to protect me from evil.  Get him out, Tasar! Finnal shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him.

We can’t. Once the door is shut, only Darius can make it open.

Fix it then! Finnal pleaded, turning his gaze from Tasar to Chin-Me. You’re a wizard, open the damn door!

But Chin-Me’s stance not only told him he wasn’t going to win; it told Finnal that it didn’t matter how much pleading he did, the large wooden door wasn’t going to open.

We cannot, Chin-Me said, sounding distressed. We set too many protections in place to protect the clan.

Hearing the next scream, Finnal ran toward the yellow room in a futile attempt to save me. My screams cried out as though someone was skinning me alive. It hit the rooms and bounced off the walls in a constant reminder that all was not well.

No! Finnal hollered out as he grabbed a sword and ran to the carved timber door. He tried to knock the door down, only to be thrown across the room.

You can’t get to him, Chin-Me said sadly. You’re only going to hurt yourself, Finnal.

Through the wall then, Garrick replied desperately. He looked for something, some weapon, anything to hit the wall.

Garrick, you can’t get him out of the room. Tasar reminded him for the thousandth time. You can’t get in, and I know that look, Tasar sighed. The window will do the same thing as the door and the wall. The only thing you will succeed in doing is falling off the roof and breaking every single bone. He’s in that room until it opens up from the inside. 

Finnal looked away and broke into sobs as his connection to me let him understand the pain I was going through. Siena pulled her brother close to her.

What good am I as a warrior if I can’t protect my yonggone? Finnal moaned before he screamed it again in her embrace.

Garrick shouted out several curse words and pounded the wall with his fists.

Damn, Finnal. We need him out of there, Garrick groaned.

I’m okay, brother, Garrick heard in his head, before another scream from the other side of the wall cried out. He fell to his knees, feeling helpless; it wasn’t easy being my high protector and understanding another’s thoughts. There was a time when Garrick thought it was funny, but not now. He glanced at Finnal, who had the bond and the mark with me; he knew Finnal had a stronger connection. The look on Finnal’s face told all, his eyes watered, and he clenched his jaw tight. The great warrior was crumbling away, one stone at a time.

Let’s go back to the table, babe, Ray coaxed softly. Garrick looked at her like a lost little boy.

It’s hurting him, Garrick moaned. We need him out of there, Ray.

Come on, let’s have a drink, Cas sighed. He put his arm around Garrick’s shoulder and led him back to the great room.

Why aren’t you more upset about this, Cas? What is wrong with you? Darius is your little brother too.

Garrick, look at me, really look at me, Cas asserted. Cas’s shoulders were tense; his eyes were red. His quiet demeanor trembled slightly at the events that were playing out in the yellow room. He cringed when another scream could be heard from my chamber. I’m sure if Garrick hadn’t been so upset, he would have noticed Cas’s tells. Cas internalized everything, and the mere fact that he was trembling slightly, meant he was at his breaking point. My oldest adopted brother looked away and rubbed his neck to try to get his composure back. Father had destroyed all of us in one way or another. Cas’s hands went into fists.

Be a man; never show sensitivity, Our stepfather would repeat in an endless loop to Cas. 

I’m sorry, Cas. I know you’re upset too, Garrick said quietly.

Suddenly Garrick let out a scream, holding his head at the images that taunted him. Garrick had seen war, but nothing like this. There were no words to describe these atrocities.

Inside my room, a creature called The Bloody One showed me why he was called that. Members of his vile race could pull out your hidden nightmares and use them against you, and I had many for his use. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think of happier times.

Walks in the sunshine, I repeated in my head. Finnal, laughing at a silly joke I’d told.

A scream had come out of me before I knew it, coming from the very depths of my soul. I dropped to my knees and pleaded for the creature to stop, an action which the Cold One found most enjoyable. It would never end, and I could never plead enough for it to find any type of compassion, because it was malevolent, with a soul as dark as it was evil.

Yonggone, scream for me, it cackled, knowing our language and customs. There were times when I hated that word. ‘My yonggone’ from Finnal, sounded like a child, not an adult man and his mate. The alien threw me against the wall once again, and that thought instantly vanished behind a facade of pain.

Finnal let out a scream and clutched his head at the images that I was seeing.

No, no, no! Garrick cried. Get Darius out of that room!

 What have I done? Begrat groaned uneasily, worried that he’d made the wrong decision.

When he heard the next scream, Begrat wondered if being a king had gone to his head, and he’d ordered me into a nightmare because he still felt like he was a ruler of his people. I was family, why hadn’t he tried to figure out something else? Another scream hit, and he wished he had chosen anything else.

Chin-Me and Tasar decided to take the next step to save Finnal and Garrick. They believed that their connections to me, in my current predicament, would eventually destroy the two that had contact with me. Finnal and Garrick were in pain and suffering; they were dealing with the Bloody One in their heads. I’m not sure if it would have killed them, but I didn’t want them to deal with what I was seeing. Part of me wanted, no, needed them there. Moreover, part of me screamed for them to be safe, and I think Chin-Me might have heard that part. Therefore, in a decision that could have caused them to be disowned from the clan, or worse, they disappeared and created something that would protect both Garrick and Finnal.

When Tasar and Chin- Me came back into the great room, they gave our family a sad smile. Tasar took a big breath as he held up a glass and gave Garrick and Finnal a smile.

Here, boys, drink this, Tasar gave Garrick and Finnal each a small glass of amber liquid. "I think