Draconess

Chyronex’s POV

The moment Lixar comes up to my chamber and tells me the news – that Uleya was freed by the Emperor, and that we could not interfere with her free will, I walk away from him and out onto the balcony in the new night.

Two things tear me apart in numb realisation, as I stare up at the moon, the cloudy sky, and the sinking feeling in my heart.

Down below, the Shadow Green is surrounded by dense and rising fog.

It is a beautiful night for tragedy.

I had raised Uleya since her abandonment at birth, I knew everything about that beautiful, trusting soul. She was extremely passionate and loved deeply.

And she was young.

Like I used to be.

Although I was a little less sweet, my mother’s instinct tears my heart into a billion pieces as tears flood my eyes.

I know where she has gone.

And I already know it’s too late.

Lixar follows me out onto the balcony and stands far away, also looking over the Shadow Green silently.

My cheeks are rivers as shadows burst next to me, as Asmodeus appears… holding her.

I turn as he lays down Uleya’s naked corpse.

She has a red blood dress from her slit throat.

Her big, beautiful eyes, still open, filled with unspeakable fear.

Asmodeus sees my breakdown blooming, but speaks through it.

“We made a pact,” his purely demonic voice is a calm, steady drawl… only a purebred demon couldn’t care less about a dead young girl, “She is dead… for now… but will be resurrected.”

“When?” I bite on that last part, a tiny spark of hope, only for it to be dashed when As shakes his head at me.

“…not in your lifetime…” As explains.

“Who killed her?” I ask, “What was the pact for?”

“Uleya was fully informed about what the risk was to visit the Lycan she fell for. If she were to die, I promised to resurrect her,” Asmodeus drawls clear and to the point.

“What did she promise you in return?” I ask, glaring at him.

“Her servitude and will for eternity – but I remind you, I also swore a vow to you, I will protect all those whom my Draconess loves, so Uleya’s protection is my first priority, I will not torment her soul,” As explains quickly.

“And the murderer?” I ask, satisfied only marginally with his response.

“I delivered her to Onyx. Her purity was irritating to the young Lycan and Onyx slit her throat.”

“And you watched?” I ask, numb.

Asmodeus chooses silence, but his eyes are arrogant. Still, he knows his own weakness, even though he is ancient compared to me – even if he serves me faithfully, I can kill him as my Draconess. I had a taste for pure demon flesh.

It’s good he stays silent.

“Chyronex,” Lixar appears at my side, although he doesn’t touch me, “Don’t do anything foolish.”

“Everyone expects me to turn into my dragon and kill that fool, but first… I know one piece is missing… As… she died… for a fool’s love… yet it wasn’t really foolish as I thought it was… tell me… it was real love?” it hurts to ask.

“I saw the madness in her, they were true born mates,” Asmodeus confirms it, “Uleya wants to live again, to try again – in another life. A demon always loves better when matured.”

“I understand,” I whisper, “We will burn her to release her soul for now, as is our tradition.”

“Do not be mad, I already own her soul, so she will be buried in hell,” Asmodeus picks her up again.

I step forward and put my hand on her cold cheek.

Asmodeus shadows away.

I turn to Lixar.

“It was my daughter’s wish, to live again for that beast… if I kill that young, idiot Lycan… she will never live again,” as I burst into tears, Lixar comes forward and hugs me close.

His embrace helps steady me, just enough.

“We need an emergency meeting with the Venatores – Auguzt doesn’t want us interfering with the Lycans, no warring, he doesn’t want unwarranted civilian casualties,” Lixar murmurs some politics, and if he is betting on it being a helpful distraction, he is half-right.

I pull out of his embrace and I think of our mortal Emperor, obsessed with peace.

Uleya, obsessed with love.

Demons… we were obsessed with Lust.

Who had died tonight, during this peace?

An innocent.

It wasn’t fair.

“I will go to hell on a diplomatic mission, to speak with the cause of all this, in Hemon,” I suggest, “I will set parameters for real peace.”

“I know how hard this is for you, there is no justice in this after what Onyx did,” Lixar murmurs.

“I’m not going to speak to Onyx,” I hiss, low, “I’m going to speak to the devil.”

I walk to the balcony and I hold it tight, looking up as the moon is clouded over, and I can no longer see my guide.

Out of nowhere, I feel ice-cold, uncomfortable and thick chills.

They start through the soles of my feet, and ripple up my calves and through the rest of my body.

Death.

My own death.

A terrible premonition, brought on by the choked moon and those thick, horrible clouds hiding her from me.

“Take her.”

I hear Zarcar’s harsh command – and when I turn, I see Zarcar and Rey have arrived.

Lix, Rey and Zar approach all together, in sync.

I am spellbound into silence, as Zar takes my wrist, and Lix my other.

Rey has rope, and he picks up my ankle to tie a loop around – a bound rope disabled my magic.

I haven’t even resisted, I just look at all of them, and last of all, Zarcar.

“What are you doing?” I ask, “I am not going on a suicide mission. I am not going to kill the Lycans –”

“Sure you’re not,” Zarcar’s sexy voice, becomes awash with arrogance and an all-knowing tone that is wrong, wrong, WRONG.

“After a hundred years, you don’t trust me?!” I scream at him, letting out my rage at this fucking betrayal! “ZARCAR,” the angrier I scream, the more I confirm his own suspicion of an angry lunatic witch.

Zarcar turns to pull me, Lix obeys, Rey stands aside and looks me over with pity.

“It’s only temporary, to preserve your life, protecting you from yourself,” Rey murmurs, trying to be the mediator.

“Shut up, vampyre, you should be helping me,” I hiss as I’m escorted inside and out of the chamber, “Where are you taking me?”

“Plainly put, Draconess, we will chain you in the catacombs of Uldaya, a safe place where you will stay until you calm down, we will not lose the last Draconess to a moment of uncontrolled emotion – I am sorry for your loss but…” Zarcar growls.

“I am in control! Please don’t put me down there, I had a premonition outside, a chill of death is coming,” I beg him, I beg Lixar, and they look over my head, at each other.

“Your hysteria will subside,” Zarcar’s words are a cold steel blade to the heart.

My love, I hate him. I hate him so much right now.

To speak plain truth and not be believed.

To have his fear of losing me, cloud his judgement.

Every word I say in anger, every word I say at all – comes across as confirmation to his bias.

That I have or will lose control, as anyone would think, with the death of my daughter.

But As explained the deal.

I would not stop her coming back again.

I would never interfere with that, ever! But no one believed I could have the restraint!

“Please,” I beg Lix quietly.

“It’s just temporary, tits,” Lix gulps, he tries to lighten my mood, but even he sounds guilty, “…I’m so sorry, Chryonex.”

“Just listen to me,” I beg, “Please, please, listen to me!”

“You will thank me later,” Zarcar growls, “Be quiet or you will be spelled to sleep.”

NO! I am treated insanely.

I am the only sane one here!!!!

I keep in my full range of emotion, until as we pass an open window – the clouded moon, touches me again, and I get another chill up my feet.

The catacombs were a death sentence.

I can’t stay silent, or I’ll die!

“I’ll die if you put me down there!” I scream it, struggling, twisting between their impossible strength, “Please, please, please believe me!”

“Nothing you say, will get me to release you,” Zarcar stops us and jerks me into him, grabbing both my arms, tears stream down his own cheeks, “Too many I have known, have died, fighting from sudden grief – it clouds your instincts. Believe me. I love you Chyronex, I won’t lose you…”

My whole being is now filled with a cold, base dread, while reading the pain in his eyes – the stubborn willpower of a dark sorcerer who won’t change his mind.

My dear warlord just looks into my eyes, waiting for me to understand, waiting for me to submit so he won’t be forced to take further drastic action.

He won’t lose me?

The tragedy was coming.

“You will,” I murmur, not my submission, just the cold, final truth.

Zarcar shakes his head, unwilling to bend, he spells me into a cursed sleep.

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