Draconess
Vol.2 Chapter 23

Torrent did warn me not to be in his territory. The last thing he proclaimed to me was that I was an enemy, and he did not want me foiling his reputation of strength by allowing me freedom in his lands, only to mock him with childish behaviour while free. It would be known by now, all through rumour, that Tor wished me tamed and on a lead.

I spin to face him outside the Red Castle’s dining hall, and he is indeed dressed for the occasion.

I watch Torrent’s silver eyes zone in on my hand, while I take in his silver toned outfit, while he wears a fancy decorative sword. I realise he has come for the dinner, and not for the turf war.

It gives me some confidence; just a little.

“Tor! What a delightful surprise,” I fake courtesy for Torrent and whip my wild hair behind my head after bowing it briefly. I tilt to the side and pose prettily, acting nonchalant like a naughty little witch.

“Where is your Keeper?” Torrent genuinely wants to know, “Where is your ring? Where is your cage –?”

“Right here,” I lift my dress provocatively all the way up my thighs needlessly while I show him the expensive Torquem steel that Zarcar gave me.

“…interesting choice?” Tor only glances at the steel chain once and then focuses on my eyes, “…you little liar… you were to marry no one… where is my brother?”

“Oh, do not fret, Zar is… praying,” bad choice of words, idiot.

“Praying,” Torrent blinks, his knowing sarcasm is rife, “To demon spawn?”

At that moment, a large horse appears in the dining hall exit and I decide to roll with a compromise.

“To – uh, praying to Asmodeus,” saying his name, I cringe with the inner hot flush that almost wipes me out again, and I attempt to pass it off as a sigh “Yes, he who is right here,” I hold up a trembling hand to the Centaur, a Prince of Hell – and I make sure to carefully take in Torrent’s reaction.

Pure shock.

I begin to snort out a laugh at Torrent’s wide eyed look – until I try to fade the laugh off… because Rey won’t be impressed by my manners.

“What a small man for a legend, I am Asmodeus,” Asmodeus snarls this at Torrent. Asmodeus commands with a voice that definitely promises death.

Asmodeus is my new best friend.

I turn to grin at the Centaur, who is sizing up Torrent’s rather huge size, but still only half the size of a Centaur.

“Is this ancient one welcome here, Rey?” Asmodeus’ speech continues, he sounds truly disgusted and offended by Tor, while Rey nods.

“Torrent is an ally of Swendula,” Rey speaks lightly, “Welcome. Do enjoy a good feast, come inside,” Rey nods to the dining hall.

Torrent turns to me, “What of her, what is she doing out here?”

“The Draconess is mine,” Asmodeus’ tone booms forth and my eyes nearly pop out of my skull.

“Oh? Am I?” I squeak and my mouth remains open, jaw unhinged. Asmodeus sounds like he is trying to force the infamous Torrent into an omega position. I still loved his tenacity, but – wow. I didn’t know the horse man was possessive either. We only just met.

Torrent is hardly phased once he acknowledges Asmodeus’ existence.

“So, it is still rather true,” Torrent speaks quietly to Rey, ignoring the Centaur, “They truly despise Mystifyers.”

“You reek,” Asmodeus doesn’t let up.

“You ass, Asmodeus, you are the horse in this equation,” Rey sticks up for Torrent in a friendly manner, while patting Asmodeus’ flank to degrade him somewhat, or simply just to piss his friend off as a friend should. Rey was charming. Asmodeus’ flank ripples with discomfort and he steps back from Rey’s touch.

“Interesting dynamic, Chyronex,” Torrent speaks politely and pretends there is no bad blood between us.

“My Queen,” Rey adds in, possessively, while winking at me, “You may visit your lover.”

“I am enjoying the feast, I will wait until it is over,” Asmodeus speaks, assuming he is my lover.

A blush explodes through me.

“I speak of her Keeper, not you,” Rey chuckles, “Zarcar is her favourite.”

“She has many masters,” Asmodeus drawls while looking at me, and it’s not a question.

“May I speak?” I hold up two hands, “Lovely feast, lovely company, I shall do as my King bids me and… Rey,” I face him and close the distance, boldly reaching for his chin. I caress it lightly to wipe away a blood stain, “I will do as you command, as always,” I smile and Rey does too as I rise up on my tip toes to place a kiss on the bottom of his chin, and then to the Centaur, “Goodbye, Asmodeus,” a second rush flows through my womb.

I wasn’t meant to say his name and I kept forgetting! I cringe at the need to throw up again, since that strong flush made me want to somehow jump his cock – which was quite impossible.

“Enjoy your night, sweetheart,” Rey is sweet for the sake of also, further, pissing off Asmodeus and Torrent equally. He doesn’t even kiss me back, showing how cocky and confident he is.

I skip away and Torrent clears his throat to yell out, “You should know, Chyronex, you’ll be fucking the Centaur in your dreams tonight,” Torrent seems to be smug in his information, “It’s a condition–”

“You speak of my breed again and I’ll rip your head from your shoulders, including the neck, you tiny scum rival,” Asmodeus threatens Torrent and I run away both sick, giggling and part way in hysterics.

I was glad Torrent had an enemy not afraid to drag his name through the dirt, but also, Asmodeus was kind of terrifying with his supposed possessiveness.

And my dreams?

No way. But, it was more a desire not to believe Torrent’s words, which were most likely truth.

There was only one consolation.

My lover, waiting for me underground.

****

Zarcar is in a Dark Sorcerer punishment chamber, he is not just simply locked in a dungeon. Which means he is surrounded by a ring of Hellfire flame, and he cannot escape, but there is a lever to pull down, to send out water in order to fix his predicament.

I circle the Hellfire flames in a chamber empty of a cell, simply a place to practice dark magic to punish the victim or the prisoner.

In fact, Zarcar had been locked behind large fancy doors, in a section of the dungeon dedicated to male sorcery.

Zarcar is forced to stand within his circle of Hellfire flames. He can not rest nor lie down. He is only in his breeches, his other clothes are discarded. He sweats profusely while standing in the middle.

Walking around his circle, I pretend to be smug, but really, I am, ha – I am smug.

I cannot stop my joy at seeing him detained.

“Wipe that smile from your face,” Zarcar’s voice echoes with a clear threat, and my ears wiggle with the sound. I missed his broodiness so much already.

“I am smug not at your pain,” a little white-lie. “Rather at your… hmmm… your punishment.”

“Get to the point. Why is Rey allowing you to set me free? Is there an emergency?” Zarcar keeps it professional, refusing to show me any weakness or soreness in his tone.

I head towards the lever to free him, to send in the water, and I pause with my hand over the lever.

“I will tell you that Rey said I could visit but I read between the lines – so you are now free,” I pretend to look at the lever, to pull the lever… but I hesitate and slip my fingers from it again, “Hmmm...” I can’t help but prolong his torture.

“Say what you will and be done with it, I am humiliated enough as it is,” Zarcar snarls it out, and he genuinely sounds hurt that I am delaying his release.

“Now wait a moment, tut, tut –” I hold up a finger and wiggle.

“Oh, hellfire, you sound just like Lixar –“ Zarcar blinks twice after a small pause, “…is it you, Lix, in a glamour?” Zarcar genuinely questions it.

“Maybe?” I lie, “If it was, then –”

“Damn you. I know it’s you, Lix,” Zarcar growls, and I realise as the healer than I am – the heat has gotten to his mind. Perhaps I can replace out some secret truth here.

I lick my lips, I look away coy, as Lixar would and I lift my chin, too.

How to phrase it.

“You know what I want,” I try, “You know what I… will not give up,” I wonder if they will speak of me? Heehee.

“If you wanted to see if I would bend to Chyronex, you are correct – she believes all of it,” Zarcar smiles.

UH.

Now –

W- what…

Even though my heart skips a nervous beat, I am not too sure what he means or if I want to believe such horrible imaginings flying through my head.

“She is a fool,” I add, assuming this may give me more answers?

Zarcar pauses, watches me for a bit, and beads of sweat drip more profusely down his face.

For a moment I think he works it out it is really me, Chyronex, but then he says, “Lixar… you and I… we’ve never strayed. Rey… Rey is a fool, but still needed.”

What the hell was going on?

“Mmmm,” I’m too nervous to say anymore, since I have no idea what he is speaking about.

“But do you love Chyronex?” Zarcar asks, letting out a sharp laugh.

That is a spear through me.

“Of course not, she’s an imbecile and a whore,” I whisper it out at the rocks by my toes, pretending to clear my throat as I kick a rock, as non-chalant as possible. I hope to hide the tears welling at the back of my eyes.

“Whore? No, I’ve seen better. Imbecile. Yes. For not seeing our plan, it is the only reason I pity her.”

“As long as the plan works, who cares?” I test that, finally looking up to see Zar turn and staring off into the distance.

“Aisha,” Zarcar murmurs, in a longing tone.

Aisha.

Their old Draconess lover?

What?

“So, Asmodeus arrived –” I start to talk and Zarcar freezes.

“Rey is beginning the transition,” Zarcar whispers.

I say nothing, but when he glances at me, I shrug one shoulder.

“…your brother has arrived too, Torrent.”

“Perhaps he is coming to witness the soul sacrifice?” Zarcar could not be calmer. I don’t know what kills me more.

“Perhaps, he is curious about that sort of thing,” I add, “You know, cousin, sometimes it was believable. The love you had for her,” I try not to choke on my own disgust.

“It is real,” Zarcar answers in a monotone.

“Why bother loving her?” I ask that, a bit risky, a bit quickly.

“Chyronex needs to feel loved before we dispose of her, it’s too… cruel,” Zarcar smiles, “Not that we care of cruelty. But as a woman, she will be loved until the end.”

“And then Aisha,” I almost hiss it.

“We’ll get her back, Lix,” Zarcar murmurs.

Why her?

Why?

“On second thoughts. I don’t think I’ll release you, dear cousin,” I turn from Zarcar and walk to the door, needing air now.

“Lixar – come back and drop the fucking Chyronex glamour.”

“I think you should sweat a bit longer… liar,” I whisper the very last word under my breath as I waltz out, uncontrollably.

When I turn the corner, I see Andoll standing there, silent, after eavesdropping, and she is shocked while staring up at me.

As I walk forward, I wonder if she is my friend in this too, or another liar.

Or another trick.

“LIXAR!” Zarcar snarls after me.

He sounds panicked.

Perhaps he wasn’t so certain anymore that there was a glamour in the first place.

Andoll walks with me out of the room and then grabs my white hand.

I was close to fainting from what I heard.

“My Queen,” she whispers, tugging me with her, “He spoke of my friend.”

“Aisha?” I answer, numb, as we walk down a desolate dungeon corridor and I collapse against a wall.

I have no will to move for the moment.

But Andoll kneels in front of me, and grabs my knees, “Aisha,” Andoll catches my eye, nodding, “Split Soul. She was inside me, Chyronex.”

“Inside?” I murmur.

“The sacrifice, they did it to me too, a year after she died. It left a remnant of her inside me, but she’s not there anymore,” Andoll shakes her head, “Zarcar broke me, and loved me, and then used – tried to – get that lady back,” Andoll gulps.

“Why have you never told me this?” I whisper, “He cried for me. I’ve seen him love me –”

“He loves you,” Andoll whispers, then leans past my cheek to my ear, “But he’s evil. They all are. They are Dark Sorcerers, my Queen. Mystifyers are extremely powerful and inherently selfish. Like ravens who love and feed but also torture their friends.”

“He. Loves. Me?” I say it without any emotion, I don’t believe it, “He wants to kill me?”

“Trade you, her soul for yours,” Andoll nods, “Correct. I resisted, you can resist to. It hurts but… and your mind might split like mine, but… you could survive it.”

“He wanted to marry me,” I whisper.

“I thought he did too,” Andoll holds my calves to her, “Chyronex. I’m not evil. I am a little bit. But I’m still your friend.”

“What about Lixar? What about Rey? What about Torrent?”

“Don’t cross Rey,” Andoll whispers, “He’ll burn you and replace a new one. Without a thought.”

“And Lix?”

“They are all hell bent on getting the Aisha lady back,” Andoll creases her brows, “My Queen, it is not over.”

“Yes it is, I think I’ll kill all of them – or myself –”

“DO NOT SAY THAT. No, my Queen, maybe you should run far away.”

“NO,” I snarl back, “I will not RUN.”

A fire burns to life inside of me; and it feels powerful.

Andoll whispers on cue, “Then you must make them your slaves. You are a Draconess.”

A moon shine moment.

I wasn’t going to become an Empress.

I was the Empress.

Right now.

No going back.

And no running.

“I’m going to take over,” I whisper at Andoll, “You said they are evil, they talk of taming me so much because they are the ones hiding their lie and they are the ones that need the taming.”

“Yes, Queen, but if you are an Empress, I demand to be your Queen,” Andoll states with me, “And Lixar must be my pet.”

“You will be Queen, and they’ll be my sex slaves, dolly, our slaves,” I jump up to my feet, “Shall we begin?”

“How do we begin?” Andoll stands with a grin.

I grin back, while tears run down my face, “Why of course, Andoll, I’m going to kill Rey.”

“How?” Andoll nearly jumps with excitement.

“With Torrent’s Hellfire of course.”