Darkness Leads the Way

Darkness Leads the Way

By Chaosdreamer

A Chronicles of Riddick fanfic
Pairing: Slash Riddick/Vaako
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the rights to Pitch Black or Chronicles of Riddick. They belong to David Twohy and Universal Studios. *Pity*
Author's Note: I blame Creed Cascade and TJ, as well as Tarlan and all other wonderful slash writers of the Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick of fandom. I tried to resist the temptation of doing this fic and reminding myself that I had other fanfics in desperate need to be finished, but¡K..ah well, I have the attention span of a gnat, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. ^__^

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The New Lord Marshall.

That was the constant murmur among the thick throngs of the Necromongers, the large population of men and women scurrying and running about in the face of a new leader. The previous Lord Marshall's body had been jettisoned into space without ceremony. The young woman, Kyra, had been placed into a sealed and sleek coffin, the new Lord Marshall watching silently as the last of the people he had come to care for disappeared into the dark arms of space.

That had been almost a week ago, and life for the Necromonger people had changed greatly. The soldiers followed their new Lord with utmost loyalty, not matter that he was a breeder or that sometimes his logic was alien to the Necromonger people, who followed the belief of the Underverse with utmost faith. There were the murmurs of possible treason, but the Furyan was an intelligent man, a killer, who could practically smell danger in the air, quickly seeking out possible threats and eliminating them before they had even begun.

Most of the heated and whispered words had come at the time when Riddick had sent the Elemental away to be with her people, the Furyan having no use of the woman, the Necromonger's wishing nothing more than to get rid of the woman. However, Riddick's words had stilled any possible actions, and the Elemental was safely hurried away with more of her people, pulled back into the comfort and calculating that her people so buried themselves within.

Vaako bowed his head in minute acknowledgement to Commander Toal, watching the large man make his way to the other side of the great hall that held most of the high society of the Necromonger faith. Each member was here to officially greet the new Lord Marshall Riddick during this honored ceremony, some even hoping to earn favor with the large and powerful Furyan.

The low thrumming murmur of so many people within the great halls echoed across the sleek gray and black arches and walls. Various marbled figures and statues were silent as dead eyes observed the milling forms dressed in their finest attires, groups of Necromongers huddled within their own separate groups, sometimes throwing scathing glares and hissing words at others that were considered a threat to their position.

Another Necromonger of the higher society approached Riddick, bowing low atop the lower stairs of the raised dais, the Furyan leader slouched loosely within the large hard seat of the throne, the black goggles staring unresponsively back at the Necromonger. This time it was another female, whose dress was so tight and the neckline plunging down so low that Vaako adverted his gaze since the woman might as well be standing nude in front of the newly appointed Lord Marshall as she preened continuously to try to earn favor from the Furyan. Riddick observed the woman fathomlessly, hands resting on the arms of the throne seat, black wristbands strapped to his forearms, the ceremonial blade tucked safely into one sheath, while his favored shiv tucked into the other sheath on his other forearm. The Furyan carried on the tradition of wearing the same thrown together armored style that he wore the day that he fought and killed the former Lord Marshall, although this style was all tinted black instead of the previous mottled gray.

'One might as well try to befriend a Hellhound. With both of them you can't tell if their smile means you're amusing them or if they're considering tearing out your throat with their teeth.' Vaako thought with silent thoughtfulness. Riddick would be good for his people. He was strong, rash possibly, but with intelligent honed and sharpened by his years in Slam and from being on the run from mercenaries.

Riddick was a predator, that much Vaako knew. The way the man moved, even the way he breathed, was like a large beast stalking and tracing its territory, its very breath seeming to take in the scents around it, scanning for possible interests or enemies. Always on the hunt, even when at rest.

A slim manicured hand slid into the curve of his arm, Vaako instantly recognizing the sweet scent of expensive perfume and the smooth rich mocha skin. 'Speaking of the hunt¡K' It appeared his wife was eager to address the new Lord Marshall. She practically stood on the tips of her toes as she waited the opportune moment in which to approach the new leader of the Necromonger race. Vaako was able to see the woman's calculations as they raced across her sharp gaze, Dame Vaako most likely already thinking of what she could do once she had the power given to that of the consort of the Lord Marshall.

"Come, husband." Dame Vaako purred, but her eyes never moved from the man that rested within the large span of his seat, leading her unresisting husband to the steps. Her tight gold-scaled dress encased her entire body stretching down to brush along the floor and the broad expanse of diamonds that shined along her throat and amongst her tightly bound hair were painful bright splashes of color against the more bleak and darker scales of her husband's attire, the raised black ridges of the scales only adding to the dark qualities of his hair and the paleness of his skin. If Dame Vaako was the fey beauty whose skin was worshiped by the sun, then Cylus Vaako was like the vampires of myth whose skin glowed white underneath the soft touch of the moon's light.

"My Lord." Dame Vaako murmured throatily, bowing low and gracefully, her subtle moves making certain to highlight the sleek quality of the lines of her body and the long soft length of her throat.

Vaako resisted the temptation to roll his eyes, not the least bit surprised that Dame Vaako was up to her tricks again, taking no shame in trying to find her way into the Lord Marshall's bed. While the act of marriage was a common thing within the Necromonger faith, it did not mean monogamy. Since no Necromonger was capable of siring or carrying any young, there were no constraints as to what gender or how many sexual partners one could have. Still, it was slightly frowned upon by higher elites when either husband or wife took another person other then their spouse to bed, but it was nothing worthwhile to bring up.

"Don't leave much to the imagination, do you?" Riddick rumbled, a slight smirk tickling along the edge of his lips. Vaako had to stifle his own mark of amusement at the look on Dame Vaako's face, the woman not embarrassed in the slightest, merely caught off guard since she had expected the Lord Marshall to admire her firm and smooth qualities. She smiled slightly at the Furyan, regaining her confidence.

"My job is to look beautiful, my Lord. I wish only to serve." Dame Vaako's smile turned ugly when she caught Vaako's own look of amusement at her stumble, incensed that her husband had not defended her, "Unlike a certain Commander I know who does not seem to remember to properly greet our Lord Marshall."

Vaako sighed to himself, knowing he should have expected such a barb from her.

Vaako was slightly concerned and minutely surprised at the Furyan's appraising look aimed towards his own person, although he could have been imagining it since the man still had on his black goggles, even though they were in the lower lighting of the large ship, light enough so that everyone could see where they were going but dim enough for the Lord Marshall not be blinded temporarily.

"Since he has failed to do so, perhaps as punishment he can stand at my side until he properly learns from his error." It wasn't a question or even a suggestion. Vaako could feel the hair along the back of his neck rise at the subtle threat beneath Riddick's words. To argue with the Lord Marshall's 'suggestion' would possibly mean a physical rebuttal. Vaako wouldn't have been too surprised about that, given the history between the two of them, especially since it was he who had taken Kyra off of Crematoria, where she had been converted into the Necromonger faith, only to die ultimately by the former Lord Marshall's hand.

If anything Dame Vaako seemed disappointed, even when knowing she had put her husband's life at risk when trying to direct the Lord Marshall's ire in his direction. "And what will you have of me, my Lord?" She asked, although she left the question open in invitation to whatever the Furyan desired.

Riddick waved his hand in a dismissing gesture, "Join the rest of the party. Your husband can watch as you enjoy yourself."

With a last lingering look Dame Vaako did retreat back into the thick throng of Necromongers, although she would occasionally try to catch the Lord Marshall's gaze from various parts of the room, the woman certain that she would finally attain a position most worthy of her, as the Queen of the Necromongers.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Your wife doesn't seem to notice that she's married to you, given that she looked ready to fall out of her clothes in an effort to catch my attention." Riddick said dryly, his gravelly voice deep with slight curiously as he turned his attention to the man standing next to his left side by the throne seat. It was fortunate for Vaako that the tall gold needle spirals had been removed much earlier from the very ship soon after Riddick was claimed Lord Marshall, or the First Among Commanders would find his skin torn open since he was standing as far away as he politely could from the Furyan's side.

Just the thought of those damn things made Riddick's skin crawl, their presence calling upon the sound of metal sliding deep into flesh, and the soft gasp of the young woman as it punched through her back and into her chest cavity.

Shaking off the uncomfortable sensation Riddick waited for Vaako's answer, his right hand idly reaching for the heavy goblet filled to the top with rich red wine. The killer took a deep breath of the deep rich scent, also silently checking for any poison, although he knew from a fact that his body could withstand nearly all poisons available in this galaxy. But then, better not to tempt fate.

"She can nearly taste more power for her to covet. She would love nothing more than to rule court over this ship as if she were the Queen." Vaako offered after a brief moment of silence.

Riddick shrugged, taking a deep drink before replying, "Not very subtle, though. Got to admire someone who has to courage to stand out like that." Riddick pointed out.

"She knows that she is beautiful and has a sharp mind. She uses both qualities well to her advantage. I believe that you are also aware of this, since you pointed that out on Helion Prime."

Riddick silently recalled the time soon after he had dropped Irgun the Strange to the ground, pulling the knife out of the dead Necromonger. After his confrontation with the previous Lord Marshall who had ordered him to be taken back to the ship, he had been approached by the slim attractive Dame Vaako who effortlessly slid her way between the soldiers, brazen enough to touch the breeder who had effortlessly killed one of Vaako's best men. "She is very tempting, if one likes the thought of fucking a venomous snake." Riddick wasn't new to dangerous women, hell, he had had his share of few during his life. He never went back to them for a second round, knowing perfectly well that they wanted more than just his body, most of them wanting him dead. His goggled gaze quickly scanned the crowd, easily finding Dame Vaako among them, the woman already pressing up to one of the lesser known commanders, nearly rubbing herself against the man's flushed front.

Vaako was admittedly surprised, sensing that he had somehow mistaken the Furyan's previous actions, "You said, if I remember correctly, that it had been a long time since you smelled something beautiful, although I'm sure those weren't your exact words."

"Who said I was talking about her?" Riddick asked casually.

Now that question nearly made Vaako jump noticeably at the underlying tone. Hell, it sounded as if the Lord Marshall was teasing him. "There was no other woman within the immediate vicinity, my Lord." Vaako countered after trying to regain his composure.

"Don't need to be a woman to smell beautiful." Riddick countered just as easily.

Vaako did take a small step back, although he stopped when a hand caught him by the wrist. While Vaako knew he was not a large man, nor a small one, but he felt inexplicably small and helpless when he looked down at his wrist held tight within the Furyan's grasp, his skin so pale against the darker skin and his wrist swallowed completely by the larger man's grip.

The Lord Marshall tugged the stiff commander back towards him, well within arm's length, yet he did not release his grip on the man, "You don't like to be teased." He noted.

Vaako kept his gaze adverted from Riddick's, subtlety noting the curious gazes directed towards them by various Necromongers, several guards moving slightly closer in case they were called forward for any reason. While a good deal of the soldiers within the ranks was loyal to Vaako, their ultimate allegiance fell to the Lord Marshall. Vaako was on his own.

"I just don't understand the need for you to say such things to me." Vaako finally admitted.

Riddick chuckled, "Paranoid yet clueless. You've got a lot of guts and spunk to actually admit to that. I admire that." The Furyan nearly purred the last sentence.

Riddick knew that he hadn't soothed the man's raised concerns, instead offering him the large goblet in a slight truce, "Drink. It'll settle your nerves."

Vaako hesitated in taking the goblet, feeling a great deal of eyes watching him as he carefully accepted the Lord Marshall's goblet, his wife's gaze nearly scalding him with the anger and hate behind the hot glare. His wrist finally released he steadied the drink with both hands he brought it to his lips, taking a small sip of the thick heavy wine. Catching Riddick's unflinching gaze Vaako took another, larger drink in hopes of finally deterring the Furyan's attention from him. Pulling the goblet away still over halfway full he returned it to the Lord Marshall, watching with rapt amazement as Riddick finished the rest of the wine in no more than four deep swallows, his lips along the same area of the goblet that Vaako's had been.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"What do you think you're playing at!?!" Dame Vaako hissed as soon as they had both returned to their quarters, practically whirling on her husband as soon as the doors were closed behind them.

Vaako raised his eyebrows at her insolent tone, "I did nothing."

"Liar!" She spat, spinning away from him in a whirl, nearly tearing the various jewels and her dress off of her body, throwing them hazardously either into the closet or into her vast jewelry box. "You were practically all over him. You even had the gall to drink from his goblet like some breeder whore." A vicious light sparked in her eyes as she peered at her husband's reflection in her large mirror, "Maybe you are only repeating what you were in your past life, perhaps?" She asked venomously.

That stung, no matter how well Vaako hid it from her, "No, you seem to outdo me, dear wife, when you are nearly coupling with every other man whom you think can win you favor with the Lord Marshall." He shot back.

"I only do it to make sure that I have everything that I deserve." Dame Vaako said, "While you seem to thrive every time you nearly fall flat on your face in failure."

"Careful, beloved, if you keep frowning like that the only thing you'll get is wrinkles." Vaako said with heavy sarcasm, leaving his wife cursing him behind his back as he moved into his separate quarters, locking the door behind him, wanting nothing more to do with the woman.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The next few days tested Vaako's patience and control. With every turn he seemed to have to deal with his enraged wife again and again as she continuously degraded him in private and in public. It was not as if she had never done this before, but Vaako found his patience growing thinner and thinner every time he heard her voice or smelled the expensive perfume practically soaked into her skin.

Another factor that made him tense and nearly leap out of his skin was the fact that the Lord Marshall seemed to use every opportunity to brush against him, whether it be by accepted a data pad, or while he was in conference with all of his commanders in attendance.

The worst and probably most embarrassing incident for him was when Vaako had, strangely, tripped when he as well as the other commanders had moved to leave the conference room when the meeting had been over. Vaako had been stepping away from the Furyan's side when he felt as sharp impact to the side of his outside leg, causing his legs to topple out from underneath him as he overbalanced due to the unequal weight on his one standing leg. He was momentarily relieved when he hadn't impacted the ground, but a healthy flush replaced his ease when he found himself completely encased within two thick strong dark arms wrapped tightly around his waist, warm against his armor-less clothing. The other commanders did not appear too startled about the Lord Marshall's actions as they looked back to see why their companion had stumbled. If anything, there was a well-knowing smirk on Commander Toal's face.

"You can let me go now." Vaako said as he watched the other commanders leaving the room, finally regaining his footing, nearly growling in frustration when he moved barely an inch within the strong iron grip of the Furyan's arms.

"Might like you right where you are." Riddick said placidly, seeming to try to leech away the heat from Vaako's body with the way his front was pressed along the clean line of Vaako's back, Vaako shivering from the light brush of air along his neck and the side of his face, shoulders pulled back to press fully against the Lord Marshall's chest. Riddick seemed to notice Vaako's shiver and he deliberately blew onto the needle scar on the side of Vaako's neck, strangely impressed by the way the Necromonger arched within his arms, Vaako's eyes squeezing shut, head arching away from the touch of air yet his face pressing into Riddick's shoulder.

"You felt that pretty well. Thought you guys lost all sensations when you were converted?" Riddick asked curiously, keeping one arm wrapped around the man while the other raised to race idly along the needle scar that he had breathed on, carefully touching the pale pink scar against the otherwise unmarked white throat.

"No. No, we don't lose all sensations. Just the pain." Vaako hissed as Riddick pressed more firmly against the soft pink of his scar, the First Among Commanders stunned to find himself babbling, "Although, really, we don't lose the sensation of pain completely. We really just learn how to better control the sensation of pain. If we go frequently enough to the Purifier, then our control is much more rigid. The rigid control over the sensation of pain allows us to heal much quicker than if we were regular soldiers."

"Really." Riddick sounded as if he were listening but Vaako was certain that his attention was elsewhere. He nearly sighed with relief when he was finally released, resting a hand on the large table to balance himself, finding his other hand rubbing against the tingling scar on his neck.

"Then why did Kyra seem so dead, so empty, when she was standing right in front of me?" Riddick asked, his voice hard.

Vaako took a moment to remember the girl's face, the one who had snuck aboard his ship when he and the surviving members of his squad had fled the seven hundred degrees of hell that was Crematoria. "People react differently, although they are all converted in the same manner. The consistency of their past memories, their mind, all of these things differ among those who are converted, depending on how strong their physical and mental state is. But one thing remains the same, and that is the choice: Convert, or Fall Forever."

"¡KDid she feel anything?" Riddick finally asked.

Again Vaako paused, uncertain of what the Furyan was asking, until the memory rose in his mind. The girl flying back as the former Lord Marshall smashed his fist into her for daring to strike at him, the force of his strike throwing her back through the air.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

With waning strength, both the physical and astral Lord Marshall lashed out simultaneously. The blow sent Kyra flying across the room to smash into the protruding spikes of a decorative column. They bit„o deeply. Her eyes widened as she slipped off the spikes and fell to the floor. They stayed that way, open and staring, even when she stopped moving. She did not move again. *

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"She most likely felt none of it, my Lord. She had just been converted, and newly converted are known to not be able to feel any sensation for at least the first forty-eight hours. She was aware that she had been struck, but nothing more." Vaako offered, only able to offer from experience what he knew, knowing the feeling of numbness, of emptiness, after being converted, not even feeling the pain from the open and bleeding needle marks upon his neck.

Riddick did not move his gaze from Vaako's for a long silent period. Vaako had to resist from shifting underneath the silent and flat black goggles, able to sense the Furyan's scrutiny. Finally, the Lord Marshall allowed him to leave, the First Among Commanders practically fleeing from the conference room.

A couple more weeks passed by, and Vaako found himself relaxing slightly. Although, that was briefly interrupted when he and the rest of the Necromongers were abruptly surprised with the arrival of five Hellhounds brought onto the main ship, just having arrived from Crematoria. The Lord Marshall had sent out a team of Necromonger soldiers to retrieve the beasts from the abandoned prison. One of the braver of the Necromonger society had timidly asked how the beasts had survived so long on such an intense planet. Riddick smirked at the brave individual, hand idly rubbing the top of one of the Hellhounds sitting by his side, "They probably ate the rest of the inmates, or the dead guards. Food is food."

That caused nearly everyone in the great hall to take several large steps back away from the beasts, Vaako not the least bit ashamed to admit he was one of them as well, already having a healthy respect of the creatures given their impressive size and appearance. Several of the beasts' armored spikes rattled as they sensed the elevated fear amongst the large group of Necromongers, a perverse parody of laughter that mirrored the sound Riddick made at the comical scene of so many people backing away.

Other than that nothing else of great excitement occurred, the Necromongers having no need to invade another planet since they had ample enough food and other supplies to last quite comfortable for several more months. Also, the new Lord Marshall had been heatedly adamant that the Necromonger soldiers leave all humans alone when or if they did invade, ordering them to take only what was needed, killing no one other than those who fought back. "If we kill them all off, then there will be no supplies left to survive on. Is that good enough incentive not to slaughter them all?" Riddick said darkly when many had argued against his commands of sparing human populated planets.

"My Lord, we can not attain the Underverse if we do not wipe out the entire human race." Someone in the crowd argued.

"I'll decide when you will deserve death, whether it be timely or not. Remember that." Riddick warned, one of his beasts backing his threat up with a low rumbling growl aimed for the individual who had spoken up against the Furyan.

"Y-Yes, my Lord." The individual squeaked in fear, hastily backing away.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Why does he want to see you?" Dame Vaako demanded as she paced furiously across and back through the large room, another tight dress molded to her form, folds of fabric creaking restlessly as she stalked like an enraged feline.

"I am not about to question his command." Vaako offered, finally deciding he had stalled long enough, pulling his hands away from the low collar of his shirt, the smooth dark material falling loosely to lightly define the slight muscles of his torso while highlighting the luminous quality of his skin. His pants and boots were of mirrored quality and color, and Vaako had to be careful not to leave any of his clothing resting on the large black dais otherwise he'd pass by the matching pieces without ever noticing his clothing, probably not noticing them for some time to come.

"Why you and not me?" Dame Vaako said softly with ill-contained fury, her mind obviously calculating to figure out if she had done something wrong, had not left enough of an impression on the Lord Marshall so that it would be her being summoned to the Furyan's private chambers, not her silent and sullen husband.

"He probably wishes to discuss the newest configurations to the ships, since we were unable to agree upon a decision in today's conference on what was needed to better improve our fleet." Vaako said, partially to convince his wife and himself, honestly not sure why the Lord Marshall was summoning him.

"Don't give me that." Dame Vaako warned, continuing to run ragged lines into the floor, "It should be me he wishes to see. I am beautiful. Perfect. I can fulfill his needs, whatever they are. You-" She turned back, nearly forcing Vaako back with the intensity in which she approached him, "You can offer him nothing!"

"If this upsets you so much than take the time and effort to schedule your own meeting with the Lord Marshall." Vaako said, impatience tingeing his words.

"I shouldn't have to. He should be summoning me, I shouldn't have to put forth any more effort. Something must be wrong, why wouldn't he call for me?" She spoke in a feverish flurry of words, more to herself than to her husband.

Vaako quickly left his wife to her rambling, knowing better than to get any further involved. Besides, the sooner he arrived to the Lord Marshall's summoning, the sooner he may get done.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"You wished to see me?" Vaako carefully entered the room, easily noting the numerous Hellhounds that were sprawled comfortably throughout the large room, one of the larger males resting right in the center of the immense bed located on the farthest side of the room against the broad rich red-painted wall. The spiked back of the beast rose and fell evenly, causing the thick black sheets to shift and the bed to creak, however softly, at the large beast's weight.

"They've seemed to have fit into their new environment." Vaako noted with amusement. The lighting was dimmer than most of the ship, the only way Vaako knew the beasts were present was from the sounds of their shifting bodies and the lines of their thick scales, the only light source a few candles situated strategically throughout the room.

"Think they've gotten soft?" Riddick asked.

Vaako snorted, not that stupid to make such an assumption. "Hardly. They're probably at their most dangerous since they are fed regularly and their strength is at their highest levels. They don't have nearly as much physical and psychological trauma that they had to endure while at Crematoria."

Riddick smiled, seemingly pleased that Vaako hadn't made the fatal mistake of assuming that the Hellhounds were getting lazy and docile. Striding steadily over to the bed Riddick sat down on the edge, patting the space next to him, within reach of the slumbering Hellhound on the bed.

Vaako hesitated, not certain if he should accept the invitation to sit in the man's presence, let alone on the Lord Marshall's bed, especially so close to an animal that obviously could and would not allow itself to be domesticated. Taking a deep breath he moved cautiously across the room, carefully noting that the Hellhounds raised their heads as he passed, but made no move towards him, one even yawning widely before dropping its head back onto its massive paws.

Finally standing in front of the large bed Vaako carefully sat down, a shiver of¡Ksomething¡Ktravelling up his spine since his back was facing the slumbering beast.

As if sensing his inner turmoil the bed shifted behind him and creaked noticeably louder as something much larger than him shifted close to his back, Vaako feeling the hot breath of the large beast against the back of his neck, "My Lord-" Vaako murmured, voice shaking slightly, one of the rare times that he had ever felt fear, despite the rigid stating that Necromongers knew no pain and no fear.

"Just relax. He's just curious." Riddick commanded.

'Easy for you to say, they treat you like a member of your pack. I'm an outsider to them.' Vaako seethed silently, his throat not working to form the words.

The large beast pressed up against Vaako, and the Necromonger could feel the blast of heat from the beast's mouth and nostrils as it brushed its large head against his long hair, almost as if it were trying to push his hair to the side in an effort to scent his skin. Against his will Vaako hunched his shoulders and lowered his head, hair falling to shield his face and bared nape left open to the Hellhound's whim, eyes adverted, wanting not to coax the beast's fury.

The Hellhound snuffled loudly as it buried its nose in his hair, rough cheek rubbing against Vaako's skin and thick textured hide snagging on the back of his shirt. A
hunk of ice settled in Vaako's stomach as he felt the unarguable press of sharp teeth at the back of his neck, the First Among Commanders clenching his hands tight into the bedspread in order to stop their shaking.

Just as soon as its large jaws had closed over the back of his neck the beast rumbled deeply and then released him, calmly leaping off of the bed and moving to another comfortable spot in the room, curling up next to one of the other Hellhounds, tucking its large head among its curled forelimbs.

"What the hell was that?" Vaako demanded, trying to swallow the hard ball that had settled in his throat.

Riddick's hand came up to rest on Vaako's next, over the spot where the Hellhound's teeth had closed over pale skin, tiny red indents left on the unbroken skin. "It's an animal thing." Riddick answered vaguely.

"Don't give me that! You think that's a good enough reason? What would have happened if it had decided to snap my neck?" Vaako demanded, jumping to his feet, nearly snarling like a cornered animal when he was pulled backwards, thrown onto his back, the light musty scent of the Hellhound surrounding him just as swiftly as Riddick's arms at the sides of his head.

Riddick reached up and tugged the black goggles off of his eyes, silver eyes flashing down at Necromonger. "If he had tried to kill you, I would have killed him."

Vaako stared up at the larger man in stunned silence.

Riddick sighed loudly in frustration, running his head over his bald head, "You really are clueless. That's attractive, but right now, it's a little frustrating."

Vaako nearly bristled at the man's words, "I'm sorry if I'm frustrating you when I don't even know what I did to annoy you in the first place."

"More like what you haven't done." Riddick corrected.

And with that lips smashed against Vaako's, the Necromonger's eyes bulging comically in shock, his mouth opening to choke in surprise. The Furyan seized the opportunity and plunging deeply into the man's mouth, mapping out every corner of the warm wet cavern.

Vaako twitched and arched, heat pooling between his legs and shaft hardening. This was all too much, it had never been like this with Dame Vaako. Even when they ever did kiss there was no tongue involved, let alone any amount of heat to their coupling. The intensity of Riddick's attack and the smooth slide of his tongue along Vaako's made the First Among Commanders dizzy, his hands grasping at the armored shoulders of the Lord Marshall, head tilted at an angle by the force of Riddick's mouth.

Riddick finally pulled away, allowing Vaako to breathe, the Necromonger gulping greedily in an effort to draw air into his lungs. "But this¡Xyou can't¡X"

Riddick rained teasing deep plunging kisses against Vaako's lips, stilling any words that Vaako persisted in trying to say.

"Long time since I smelled beautiful." **

Vaako gasped as Riddick rocked against him, the motion causing his legs to spread and allowing the Furyan to lay comfortably within the cradle his thighs. "Slow down a moment!" Vaako complained, grabbing Riddick's shoulders from the sudden jolt of his legs being spread and hips tilted. Vaako cursed and pushed against the larger man; he might as well have tried moving the ship. "We're not in a race or a competition."

"Seems like its that way with the way you're always running away." Riddick chuckled.

"I shouldn't be doing this." Vaako murmured.

"Nothing wrong with a good bone-melting tumble."

Vaako bit his bottom lip and arched at one well-aimed thrust of Riddick's hips, wrapping his hands around the Furyan's biceps. "I'm a married man." He argued softly even though he panted in time with the rhythm of Riddick's rocking hips and tensing thighs.

"You're the one who said that monogamy isn't really considered by the Necromongers." Riddick countered.

"Damn you and your memory." Vaako growled.

Riddick merely grinned, stopping any more of Vaako's complaints with another deep-throated kiss, tilting his head to make sure Vaako could at least manage to breathe through his nose, hips canting in a steady and rocking rhythm against the commander, hands grasping large handfuls of pitch black hair within firm fists.

Vaako's hands kneaded Riddick's back, using what little leverage he had to raise himself up and press both of them chest to chest, shivering at the heat concentrated between them. Hazel eyes met silver momentarily before Vaako's slid shut, unable to hold them open any longer, his focus slipping away as heat pooled further into his groin, tingling sparks shooting up his spine and throughout his body, the intensity of it immense, more than he had every thought a human capable of.

Riddick's thrusts began to grow more erratic and unrestrained, the force of each one causing Vaako's body to jolt and the bed the creak, a soft whine escaping Vaako as brief flashes of light clustered underneath his clenched eyelids.

Their mouth's separated with an audible sound, lips bruised and swollen, Vaako's eyes fluttering open, "Lord Marshall¡X"

"Riddick." The Furyan cut in, burying his face against the stretched expanse of Vaako's next, mouth closing over the tempting white flesh.

"Riddick¡K" Vaako groaned, the dual sensation of the mouth against his neck and the heat of the man's hips and thighs against his too much, "Riddick!" He gasped, head arching as he reached the pinnacle, rising beyond it, warm heat flooding through him, crying out as he came.

Riddick cursed and nearly howled as he responded to the man's cries, body responding, his release glorious. He bit down savagely on Vaako's throat, an alpha marking what was his, not caring at all about the warm wetness between them, actually relishing the sensation, knowing that he had caused it. He was the one who made Vaako lose control and cry out, made the man nearly shout his name, skin burnished white within the darkness of the room and the splashes of candlelight. His silver eyes memorizing all of the dazed man's features as pulled back from Vaako's throat, breath ragged, noting with pleasure the languid quality of Vaako's sprawled form and the noticeable red bruise on his neck, Riddick's mark to everyone that he had had Vaako, even though it was just the beginning.

Just the beginning.

Vaako panted softly, a slight smile across his lips, flush slowly disappearing from his face, "So tired¡K." He murmured, unsuccessfully trying to keep his eyes open.

Riddick ran his hand underneath the silky material of Vaako's shirt, smiling at the low purr from the man, "Then sleep. I'll be here."

Vaako hummed in agreement before his eyes slid shut, body falling back further into the soft thick sheets, breath deepening as he collapsed fully into a deep sleep, so many new sensations and so many past frustrations having taken their toll on his body.

The Furyan rolled to the side, pulling Vaako's limp form with him, cradling the warm form against his, the man's head tucked underneath his chin while his arms wrapped possessively around the Necromonger's shoulders.

'You keep what you kill¡K.'

'Wonder if I'll have to kill Dame Vaako to get her husband?'

The thought made Riddick chuckle unpleasantly, then man lying awake for some time before he too fell asleep, eyelids sliding shut over silver eyes. While both men did shift and move during their sleep, in the morning Riddick's arms were still wrapped around his First Among Commanders, and Vaako slept peacefully for the first time in so many years.

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 2, THE EPILOGUE OF 'DARKNESS LEADS THE WAY'.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Author's Note: * Exact text from Chronicles of Riddick by Alan Dean Foster.
** Exact text from Chronicles of Riddick by Alan Dean Foster.