Draconess
Vol.2 Chapter 29

I awaken from one nightmare into another. Booming thunder rips me awake from a dream I was imprisoned within. It’s late noon, a storm battering the windows outside, while I’m dripping in sweat and other bodily fluids as I throw off the sheets and blink far too many times to try and comprehend the room.

Zarcar, Torrent and Lixar are here.

All are on their knees before the bed. All within chains.

Asmodeus – the centaur that just fucked me to hell a thousand times in my dreams, in ways you can’t and wouldn’t want to imagine, is standing with two very annoying people.

Aisha is leaning into As’ left flank, Rey standing at his right.

“Sweet dreams, Queen?” Aisha speaks to me, sweetly, while petting As’ abdominals.

I stare at the horse man for a second, but he’s rather relaxed for someone who just committed every sin in the book in another realm, seconds ago. He must live in both, Like Andoll –…

Fuck.

I almost cry on the spot when I realise she’s probably gone forever.

I swiftly focus on Rey – how the hell is Rey out of my curse?

“No one could break my spell, unique to my mouth, from my mind,” I whisper, wiping off sweat from my forehead with a sheet angrily before tossing it aside.

“I can, sweetheart, you’re young, I’m wiser, I know more spells, I know more things, I know everything, actually,” Aisha smiles while demeaning me and Rey holds up a hand.

“Let me lead with this,” Rey hisses quietly, while glancing at Aisha with what I assume to be extreme lust.

I’m just staring at Asmodeus and I’m sure he’s Aisha’s fucking best friend or something. Especially with the way she’s all over him.

Fucking traitor.

I barely knew As… but still… it rattles me.

“Speak,” I stand up onto the bed, in nothing but a cream dress for naps in the day, “You’re all here to kill me, I guess to usurp back your throne?” I ask Rey with attitude, “You can burn me up with a blink of an eye now that you’re free… why am I still alive… and why is my Venatores on their knees?”

“Mystifyers,” Asmodeus speaks, drawling it needlessly, “Dragons.”

Obviously.

“I know what they are you vile Centaur,” I spit my rage and I get a small pleasing smile out of As that he quickly masks. Did he like me or not? I couldn’t tell. Since it was just a dream, I had joined in to please him, but it doesn’t mean I enjoyed that I enjoyed that sinister thing between his centaur hind fucking legs - argh, you don’t want to know, “Why aren’t they speaking?” I nod to Tor, Zar and Lix, all glossy eyed and mute as they stare up at me.

“Two choices, Chyronex,” Rey begins, bored almost, the ego on this Vampyre never ceased to amaze me, “Surrender to I and your new Queen. You’re too young to win a battle to the death against Aisha. Or… leave… and say goodbye to these fools, who I’m locking away for betraying me, for a very, very long time,” Rey drawls and smirks at the same time while he mimics what I threatened him with a few hours ago, “It’s simple. Either way; you’ll be saying goodbye while I place them in isolation cells to contemplate their loyalty to the true King. The Immortal King.”

“…so you’d let me… go free…?” I ask, smirking a little back at Rey, and I do note it annoys Aisha from the corner of my eye, “…to where… I ponder… freedom…” I cherish the thought, closing my eyes.

Freedom?

A lovely thought.

For all of three steps.

One off the bed, one toward Rey, one toward Asmodeus – as I latch my arms around his torso and give him an almighty hug.

“Oh, As, I think I’m in love with you now, though,” I lean back a little, lying, or half, or not, but still, “Have you spelled me to be in love with a Prince of Hell?” I pretend to swoon to the side.

I’m trying to get closer to Aisha.

“In lust, Chyronex, there is a difference,” Asmodeus corrects me – perfect distraction horse man, thank you.

Just as I’m a few inches from her smug face, I launch at her and tumble with her toward the ground.

No. I wouldn’t just leave! This was my home and my throne!

I’ve managed to land right on top of Aisha in a brawl, but with some insane flexibility from her legs she happily rolls me over and takes the place on top, using my higher cut dress to choke me.

“That’s the strangest kill strike I’ve ever encountered,” Aisha laughs, genuinely so, even as she tries to kill me, “Time to die now, sweetheart, say goodnight!”

“You’re in my friend’s body,” I choke out, looking for Andoll in Aisha’s gaze, even as I welcome the choking sensation to snap me out of my emotion.

My emotion only gets worse, however.

“She’s my vessel, you idiot – Andoll is gone,” Aisha is about to choke me even tighter when I suddenly give up struggling, and I burst into tears on the spot.

I cry on the floor and Aisha abruptly unhands me – while Asmodeus uses a hand to grab her hair and haul her up off me.

“That’s enough of pettiness,” Asmodeus is quite authoritative, and Aisha obediently steps back into line while I remain on the floor of Rey’s gothic bedroom, sobbing at the loss of my best friend in the whole world.

“I don’t want to be a fucking Empress, I just want my Andoll back,” I hiccup on a breath as Rey suddenly shadows over me, coming to stand by my side, to observe my hissy fit on the floor.

He is befuddled.

“You are one strange Draconess,” Rey concludes, quietly, truly intrigued.

“Andoll,” I whisper, “Am I the only one who misses that crazy bitch?” I say bitch as an endearment. I need that crazy bitch right now to help me rule the world – I couldn’t do it without her.

“Are you leaving for freedom or staying to kneel down?” Rey asks me, stubborn and realistic, speaking over my tears, “Chyronex, I don’t have all day, but I do have an extra cell… answer for your fate.”

Why was Rey even giving me a chance?

Why was Rey even allowing me to live?

He could use Hellfire in a second, I betrayed him, I took his throne.

Regardless, I didn’t want it anymore.

I sit up in another huff, teary eyed as I look at my Mystifyer’s, dazed and pacified, about to be locked away.

“I’m a Draconess, but not a Queen anymore,” I whisper to my Venatores.

“…and not an Empress either… now say goodbye to these three idiots,” Rey steps back and holds out a hand, motioning to all my Mystifyers.

My gaze, however, lands on Zarcar.

His eyes, though distant… are black… and it’s hard to tell… it’s hard to tell how under he really is.

Especially with the weather how it is –

Oh.

“Bye,” I whisper to Zar, feeling all my power slipping away from me in that one moment, I was tired, I needed back up, I needed help, “Perhaps I will just leave instead, and live as a free jungle woman, in a cave somewhere, eating bugs and painting with mud… mud from the rain… from the beautiful violent storms… listening to all the thunder and the lightning,” I start to smile a bit, and a certain tension fills the room.

I wait for it.

I wait for a lightning strike.

Come on.

Through the window.

Take the bitch out.

Come one.

Take out Rey.

Take out the horse man.

Come on, Zarcar.

I wait; and nothing happens.

I open my eyes and Zarcar is just blankly staring.

“Are you blind and deaf?”

A question?!

From Zarcar’s lips.

He leans back and stops pretending not to be affected by the spell he’s been put under.

“How are you –?” Aisha begins.

“He’s not in love with you,” Zarcar speaks, completely exasperated as he looks at Aisha, “He’s in love with her.”

“What -?” Aisha tries to remain stoic, leaning out of Asmodeus this time to look at Rey, who’s looking anywhere but at her.

“So. Are you blind and deaf?” Zacar snarls at me this time, repeating the question.

“What -?” I’m as confused as Aisha.

“I don’t love you either,” Zarcar answers Aisha, “I love Chyronex, as Rey loves Chryonex,”

“Sweet birdy!” Lixar tries to scare me by yelling it, then grinning and laughing shortly.

“This is a farce,” Torrent’s chains all fall off and he stands up, kicking them aside, were they all pretending to submit? “Chyronex stand up and take your place.”

“What place?” I joke to Tor as I stand and curl up my fists. What was the prank? Where was the punch line? Who was making fun of me today? I hold up my fists protectively, “Is something funny?”

“I wanted to see if she’d fight her,” Rey whispers, to himself, then at me, “You fucking fell over and started crying!”

Aisha is the only one confused now.

“I miss that crazy bitch too,” Lixar whispers.

“Aye,” Zarcar agrees, “It’s not the same.”

“Asmodeus?” I ask, since I think I know where they all stand.

With me.

But I’m not sure where the last formidable demon will choose.

If he was against us – he would back Aisha.

“Asmodeus is mine, don’t look at him like that,” Aisha hisses at me.

“You,” Asmodeus answers me, calmly, “Fuck like a real Draconess, unlike any I’ve ever split – I’ll choose you any day. And I do miss that crazy bitch too – we talk, no one knows, don’t worry,” Asmodeus winks and pats the back of Aisha’s head, “Andoll – you are summoned to the forefront, excitus infernum.”

Aisha’s head bobs forward with the heavy pat from Asmodeus.

The eyes widen.

She looks around.

Her eyes widen further as she replaces me, and points to me.

“Aren’t your feet cold?” she hisses, aggressively.

“That easy?” I whisper at As.

“A gift to my Draconess,” Asmodeus smiles, while Andoll launches at me and knocks me back to the floor.

We tumble, but this time we don’t let go and nearly suffocate each other.

“Queen, I’m right here, look at me! In my eye and my other eye!” Andoll snuggles into my chin, while I hold her waist and stare at the ceiling in shock.

“What just happened?” I whisper.

I look over to the rest of them.

Every single one of them is staring at us.

Torrent, however, has his arms crossed.

“Varkinya needs help rearing those children back in Uldaya,” Torrent rumbles out, “And I see my allies in the west have the politics sorted, don’t you?” Torrent punches Rey’s shoulder, catching his attention, “Keep it sorted. I don’t want to touch that again, she’s trouble, Chyronex, none of you can handle her, but you know what? I don’t want to,” Torrent is already walking out, staring back at me briefly, “Goodbye.”

“Fuck you… never,” I add, I try to sound mean, but it sounds rather petty and childish. I don’t care.

Andoll laughs – and then I laugh.

The others – the men – don’t laugh.

Torrent slams the door shut, leaving an echo in the silence.

Asmodeus backs off into the shadows, disappearing into his other realm, choosing to leave for his own silent reasons.

Rey, Lixar and Zarcar are left, awkwardly facing each other now.

“It needed to happen,” Rey admits, with a low tone, “It’s out of the way now. And Chyronex remains Slave Queen.”

“No, I…” I glare at Rey, but I can’t replace the words, “I…”

“It was a joke, darling,” Rey looks at me, dead in the eye.

“It was a very dry joke then,” I whisper back, from the floor, I still haven’t moved with Andoll.

“Fine. You’re my Queen, that’s not a joke,” Rey makes himself smile, “Which means Zarcar and Lixar can still bicker – but you’ll be mine,” Rey winks.

What the f –

“We friends?” Lixar points to his chest and then Rey.

“Get out,” Rey murmurs to both of them, “I’m having her to myself.”

“Chyronex will not be satisfied with one,” Zarcar murmurs, “And Andoll needs attention.”

“You two fuck Andoll,” Rey hisses to Zar and Lix, as if Andoll and I can’t hear, “I’ll take my Queen just fine on my own.”

“I hate them,” Andoll whispers up at me, while smiling, “I hate them sooo much.”

“You can go to them, it’s okay,” I pet her and she scrambles off me, sprinting off to Zarcar. She barrels into him, attempting to squeeze him to death next.

“My favourite sorcerer!” Andoll squeals, while Lixar awkwardly points to his chest and looks at me this time.

“Why am I always second?” Lixar asks, sad when Andoll lunges to cling to him last, but he pushes her off, so she bites his hand and doesn’t let go, “Damn it, critter,” Lixar grabs her hair and hisses into her ear, “You know where to put that mouth. Fucking cutie. I missed you, fuck.”

“Come,” Zarcar leads them out of the room, forcing himself to move.

We’d consult later.

In moments… it’s just Rey and I.

I still haven’t moved.

I refuse.

I’m still in shock.

“Hi,” I smile a little at Rey, “What in Hemon is going on?”

Rey squats, his open shirt is showing off his pale skin, slightly golden only from a fresh meal.

“I rather enjoyed your attempt to be Empress, but the rest is history. When a King loves a Queen – he will die for her,” Rey tries to give me a poem, I just stare back blankly, “It’s more romantic that I’m immortal,” Rey waits for the love to register, but I still remain completely blank, so he abruptly stands back up and looks to the bed, “Get up and come here,” Rey glances at me briefly, now swiftly annoyed, all love gone, “We have a lot of catching up to do, so take off that fucking dress. Chyronex. Move your ass off the floor. Obey.”

“You could have helped me off the floor, that would have been romantic,” I whisper at Rey. I watch him, as an internal struggle, actually settles in his silver and black inked eyes. He questions himself mentally, then comes toward me, while I’m jumping to my feet, “Too late,” I step into Rey and press one hand to his chest, looking up into his eyes, “But you can take off my dress for me?”

“I love that after all that, you still have no idea how much you’re adored,” Rey leans in to kiss me, and basically rips the dress off my body at the same time.

I shiver from the thrill and danger and excitement of it, being completely consumed in the embrace of this once ice cold Immortal King.

Rey may be right. I might not understand my true place just yet, in the warming, melting eyes of my Venatores, but I know for the rest of the night, we’ll burn together.