Disclaimer: I don’t own DBZ or any rights to it. Maybe in an
A/U I do, but not here.
It
was dark where Bulma was; dark but warm. Around her she heard voices and could
feel coolness as something touched the bruises on her stomach. There was more
talking, hushed so Bulma couldn’t hear what they were saying and then,
somewhere in the darkness a light sprung up. Around Bulma there were shrieks as
the light hit several small creatures that had cat like eyes…
Bulma
opened her eyes slowly and realised that the light she had seen in her dream
was a burning touch on the wall about the bed. She glanced down at the soft
pillows that were plumped around her and she sunk down, unaccustomed to such
luxuries…abruptly she sat back up again as she realised that she had never seen
this room in her life. Indeed, she hadn’t even known the castle contained such
beautiful bed covers.
“Where…?”
Bulma sat up and looked down at her unfamiliar garments. “Where on Earth am I?”
“You’re
in my kingdom.”
Bulma narrowed her eyes and stared at the corner of the room, it seemed as if the shadows were folding in upon themselves until a shape was formed. The darkness seemed to meld into a man, a man who was more familiar to her then any on the planet. He was decked in black and as he stepped forward it seemed for a moment that the shadows clung to him before reluctantly letting go and seeping back to the corners of the room.
“You’re…you’re
the fey king, aren’t you?” Bulma pulled the bed sheets up to her chin and
resisted the urge to pull them over her head and hide. She was dressed in only
the barest of slips and she had not the slightest intention of dishonouring herself
in front of this strange man.
“Now,
now.” The lord of the dark elves watched her with amused eyes. “Such modesty? After
all we’ve been through?” Vegeta laughed as he silently made his way towards
her, “You don’t need to fear me Bulma. I would never hurt you.” He sat
down on the bed and gave her a charming smile, he made no move to touch her, he
simply looked deep into her eyes, so deep that Bulma felt almost as if he was
seeing her soul. It was a most discontenting feeling.
“Am
I dreaming?” Bulma inched away form Vegeta. “Did I dream all that happened?”
She didn’t like the way that he was watching her. In her mind it was one thing
to allow him to have her in a dream…reality was another thing!
“Of
course it happened.” Vegeta crept up the bed; his movements liquid and graceful
like those of a giant cat. He moved forward until Bulma was pressed up against
the headboard and had nowhere left to retreat. He watched her for a few
moments, noting her rapid breathing and the beating pulse in her long white
throat. “Now don’t tell me your afraid of me?”
“How can I not be scared?” Her voice was soft
and feathery.
“You
were never afraid of me in your dreams…why must you act lie this in reality?
Hmmm? I’ve already told you I wont hurt you.” Vegeta reached out a hand and
gently stroked her face. “No one will hurt you here.” When the beautiful
servant girl made no move to push him away he pulled Bulma into his arms and gently
kissed her.
The
moment his lips met hers Bulma could remember all the hundreds of other times
he had kissed her like this. In the kiss she could feel his fury at the people
who had hurt her and she could feel his passion for her, dare she say love,
burning like a fire. Bulma relaxed her grip on the bed coverings and allowed
Vegeta to pull her into his arms; his hands roamed her body, causing nothing
but pleasure. He was so gentle – nothing like what she had come to expect from
men.
Bulma
moaned as she felt his mouth leave hers and his teeth gently bit her neck, not
quite breaking the skin but almost. He pushed her back against the bed and
stared down at her, the swirling darkness in his eyes glittering with stars.
Almost against her will Bulma felt herself being pulled into his eyes, being
pulled into sparking darkness…
“No!” Bulma shut her eyes and pushed against Vegeta surprised when instead of holding her down and forcing himself upon her he moved off of her in a blur of speed.
“What?
Did I hurt you?” His face showed nothing but concern and his hands traced her
body through the silk of the dress she wore as if searching for any injuries. “I
am most deeply…
“No.”
Bulma forestalled his apology. “You didn’t hurt me, I just don’t think I can
lie here with you after seeing what you did in that field.” The blackness in
his eyes had held an image of the blood welling up from the sword he had thrust
into the ground. Bulma looked down at the bed and picked at her nails. “I understand
you did it in…vengeance for me, and I’m most grateful, but many people who don’t
deserve to will die because of that.”
The
fey king tilted her head up and made her look into his eyes, his face was like
a mask but Bulma could see the fury in the boiling depths of those eyes. “Do
you think I am so stupid I don’t know the consequences of my own actions? Do
you think I don’t know they will die? Of course I know - and they deserve
it.”
“No!”
Bulma jerked her head away from his touch. “Nobody deserves death!”
Vegeta
tipped his head back and groaned in frustration. “Stop being so concerned with
the people who mistreated you - it’s not like your ever going to see them
again.” As he spoke he watched as confusion settled on her face and with a
small smile he sat himself down on the bed once more. “So you’d forgotten what
I told you?” Vegeta gave her a disturbing smile and took off the long leather
coat he had been wearing. “You’d forgotten the rules?”
“I
don’t remember…the rules?” Bulma’s eyes turned unfocused as she sorted through
the hazy memories of the nights she had spent in his arms…but the memories were
too foggy and she had always cast them off as dreams. She had never bothered to
think over the often fantastical things he had told her.
“Rule
number one, if you call my name and come with me there is no way back. Number
two, if you stay in the underground for more then two days you become a fey -
wether you want to or not. Lastly the third rule; once you are down here you
follow my rulings as I am the king.” Vegeta dealt her a hard smile.
Bulma
shook her head, unwilling to accept rules which to her seemed preposterous. “I
cannot live with you…I belong to Lord Kendal. He owns me…”
“No
one owns you anymore.” Vegeta crept closer, feeling his own chest tighten at
the beauty of the creature in front of him. “You’re free.”
“Not
free to leave.” Bulma look up at him with a wry smile and their eyes met for a
long moment.
“MY
LORD! MY LORD!” The door was thrown open and Goku hastily entered and bowed.
“My lord, the mortal Kendal is gathering his armies and preparing to attack
us…”
“So
what’s he going to do? Jump down the hole and get us?” Vegeta growled and
pushed off the bed, “I thought I told you not to disturb me!” He growled, his
eyes becoming alight with fire.
“But
my Lord! Our informant tells us that he plans to destroy the forest…” Goku
hastily took a step back, not wishing to incur the rage of his king.
“He
plans to destroy out forest?” Vegeta growled. “Fine, gather the armies and set
out to make an attack. We shall deal with the mortals as quickly as possible, I
have no time or patience for the humans and their pathetic squabbling.”
“Yes
my Lord.” Goku bowed and quickly left the room. Vegeta swung around to stare at
Bulma, and then he sauntered up to the bed and with a grim on his face he
pulled her to her feet,
“I’m
sorry for this interruption. I must take care of this…unfortunate business, but
when I return we shall continue our talk.” Vegeta caught her arms and pulled her
to him, kissing her deeply. To Bulma it felt almost as if he were draining her
soul from her lips – or as though he was trying to imprint himself upon her.
“But…the people…” Bulma
broken started to say before Vegeta put a finger on her lips.
“Hush.
This will be over by dawn and then we’ll talk. Until then you may wander my
castle, but do not try to leave.” Vegeta made a flourish with his hand a
beautiful woman with pale skin and charcoal hair appeared. “This is Chichi, she
shall be your guard and your guide.”
“But
I…”
“I
must go.” Vegeta hesitated and then kissed Bulma again before walking away.
There
was silence for a few seconds before Chichi laughed, “Oh yes, he likes you all
right.”
“Likes
me?” Bulma wearily sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed at her temples,
too much had happened too fast. Bulma felt as if her brain were about to explode.
How was it possible that the fey were real? Perhaps she had finally gone mad?
“Yes,
if he’s willing to start a war between the Fey and the humans he must be
desperate to keep you.” Chichi laughed again as some personal joke. “He’s quite
smitten with you, that’s probably why he plans to marry you…”
“Marry
me?” Bulma timidly stood up and then gave herself a mental shake; she must not
act like a weak woman here. “He wishes to…marry me? But I’m a commoner! Why
would he do something like that?”
“Because
he wants you.” Chichi shrugged. “Don’t you wish to be a queen?”
“I…I
don’t deserve to be.”
The
beautiful woman watched her for a moment. “Does he frighten you?” Chichi poured
a glass of some purple liquid and then poured another one for Bulma,
“Well…he’s
a little imposing and forceful.” Bulma looked suspiciously at the purple stuff,
and then took a small sip. “Our folklore says that he’s an evil spirit that
snatches away children.”
“Well
I don’t know about snatching away children but he certainly can be imposing. He’s just used to getting his way - he can be
quite generous and caring when the mood takes him. Much as he loves you Bulma,
he does have quite a temper and doesn’t like being defied. You have to realise
he’s been our king for thousands of years and has never been denied anything he
has wanted. If you anger him too much,” Chichi yawned and drank the purple
stuff down in one gulp, “Well he might end up doing something rather rash.”
“Great.”
Bulma followed Chichi’s example and downed her sweet drink in one gulp too.
“Don’t
worry, he’s just as nervous as you.” Chichi smiled. “He’s never been in love
before so all this is all new to him too.” She stood up and took Bulma’s hand. “Come,
I’ll show you around.