“So it’s true? There is no such thing as absolute evil?” I knew it! Dorian could never be completely immoral, even if he tried. There truly is good in him.
“No. Not originally. But over time, our power evolved into something else. Something dark and destructive. We lost our ability to heal, our ability to help others unselfishly. Our ability to love and show compassion naturally. We were completely corrupted.”
I nod against his chest, trying to formulate a way of tactfully asking my next question. “So, um, if the Divine Power created you, the Dark, why couldn’t he, you know, end you? I mean, I’m glad that didn’t happen for obvious reasons, but it seems like the logical solution.”
I feel Dorian’s lips in my hair then hear him swiftly inhale, breathing life back into his weary body. He needed this contact for more than the comfort of our close proximity.
“We were created to be complementary to the Light. Two separate yet equal powers. We are the Yin and Yang. Without one, the other cannot survive. To destroy us would also end the Light.”
Oh. That makes sense. Also keeps the Dark from completely annihilating the Light. Driving the Light into extinction would be suicide.
“There were other consequences.” Dorian gently lifts me off of his chest to lift his shirt. A sharp breath reflexively catches in my throat at the sight of his smooth, delicious torso. “The tattoo. We, the Dark, are marked. Only other supernatural creatures can see it as a way to warn them of our treachery, to shame us for our transgressions. You’ve heard of the Mark of the Beast?”
I furrow my brow in confusion. “From the book of Revelation? But I thought that was 666? And wasn’t that, like, towards the end of the world or something?”
Geez, this is getting creepy.
Dorian shakes his head before sliding his shirt back down to cover his magnificence. Dammit. But I can’t be distracted with my carnal desires, not when he is sharing so much with me.
“Each is the name of our clan, or our family. The Skotos, the Órexes, and even your father’s family, the Polemos, are all branded. There are many others, though the Skotos have been the ruling family for thousands of years, long before even my father was created. However, it has been said that there will be one that will wear the true Mark of the Beast.”
Dorian strokes my cheek with back of his hand, letting his touch linger for a long beat at my chin. “Some believe it will be you.”
“What?!” I scream, with no regard for courtesy or modesty. Oh hell no! Did he just say what I think he said? Of all the bizarre conversations, this has to be the most asinine, ridiculous, sacrilegious one yet. I look at Dorian with wild, horrified eyes. “Are you trying to say that I’m the freakin’ antichrist?!”
Dorian chuckles before shaking his head. “No, no, calm down. Of course not. But you are a unique breed, so to speak. People will try to breathe truth into any fable they don’t quite understand. It is not you; only the Divine Power knows who and when. You are quite the opposite. Your birth was considered the coming of a new dawn. A savior…to the Light, that is.”
Whew. Disaster averted. I don’t even feel comfortable discussing the end of days, let alone contributing to it. “How so?” I ask, thankful for the change in direction. I let out a deep sigh of relief and nestle back into his arms.
“Their hope is that you will restore the balance, bring peace amongst the Light and Dark. While most of the Light are hopeful that you will succeed in this by aligning with them, there are others who fear your power.”
“And the Dark? How do they feel about my presence?” I ask meekly. Whatever it is, it can’t be good.
Dorian shrugs. “Obviously, there are those of us who don’t want peace. They don’t want to restore the natural order. Then there are some who feel that your power could be…useful.”
“Your father,” I whisper. He wants to use me, keep me as his little pet to attack those who defy him.
“Yes.” Dorian’s hands find their way to my scalp, and he begins to massage. I instantly feel all the tension drain from my body. Dorian and those magic fingers.
“Is that why you hate him? Because he doesn’t want peace? Because he likes this corrupted regime?”
“That’s not the only reason. The Dark, especially the Skotos, were corrupt long before his rule. And sadly, so was I. I’m no boy scout but honestly, it was just getting old. Decades of killing, sating my wanton desires without regard, straying from our true purpose. I wanted something else, something more. I knew it was out there but I never truly felt it until I found you.” I feel Dorian’s soft lips kiss the crown of my head lovingly. I squeeze my arms tighter across his waist in response.