Ember
We were nearing the edge of the trees, and I could see the castle more clearly now. It was covered in vines and had a black coat of paint that shimmered when the light hit it in the right way.
One of the soldiers yanked on my hair and my necklace with it.
“What’s this?” the soldier asked, reaching and unclasping the necklace. It fell between my breasts, and with a cruel leer, he reached his hand between them to fish it out, manhandling my breasts, and not by accident. When he finally had it and it lost contact with my skin, my rage settled into my body.
The once calm air began to stir, making horses skitter and causing hats to fall. The earth below me shook, making people on foot lose their footing. My eyes focused in on Lord Ash, and without another second passing, I let out an unearthly scream.
Rosaline
The castle rattled with the force of an earthquake. I lost my balance and fell on my ass. Also, I’m pretty sure a couple of windows upstairs were shattered.
Cursing, I got back up and ran to the courtyard and the front gate, and peered between the bars. I could hear the high-pitched scream now, and although it was affecting everything else, the effects washed over me. I shifted into dragon form and took off towards Ember, who was the only one who could possibly do this.
As I circled above the scene, I saw a paint stallion braving the horrifying power of Ember, pushing his way through the vortex that was the center of Ember’s rage. Soldiers surrounded her, trying to protect their faces from flying debris. The vortex was big enough that I could drop in in human form, so I shifted in midair, and used my cloak to float myself down next to her.
“Ember,” I started, placing a hand on her shoulder. She turned to me, her eyes violet in her rage. She stared at me in confusion, and I saw the vortex begin to thin.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice a deep and rich hum.
“My name is Rosaline. I’m the monster these soldiers were sent to kill,” I said, guessing about the soldiers. I pushed the cloak behind my shoulders and held my hands out.
She glanced at them, and I saw the vortex fall a little more. “You don’t look like a monster,” she told me, and I saw her violet eyes start to fade back to gray.
“I’m a monster to them because I have a different diet and can shift forms. But I promise, if you come with me, you won’t be harmed,” I said, offering her my hand.
In response, she nodded, and the vortex dissipated. I shifted quickly to dragon form, and after a moment of shock, she climbed on. The soldiers had frozen as well, but were starting to come forward again.
I rubbed my tongue against the roof of my mouth, then opened my jaws, letting the lightning strike the nearest soldier. When everyone else gave pause, I launched myself into the air, grabbing the paint stallion on the way, and flew back to the castle, over the walls, and into the courtyard.
After Ember dismounted, I shifted back.
“They’ve treated you poorly,” I said, taking in the coarse riding gown and her dirty state. I offered her my arm. “Let me take you to the hot springs below my castle, and you can bathe. I’ll rustle you up some clothes as well.”
She hesitantly took my arm, and I guided her inside and down to the hot springs.
“There’s soaps and towels already down there. Help yourself to whatever you need.” I gestured to the neatly folded towels and the soaps.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, giving me a strange look that I couldn’t quite decipher.
So instead, I backed out, nearly tripping on the stairs on my way up. I caught myself, then smiled wryly and continued up the stairs in the regular fashion.
When I made it back to the courtyard, I guided the horse to the stables. He was skittish at first, but once he smelled me, he acted like a giant hound and followed me. Once he was comfortable, the sun had begun to set, and I decided it was high time I checked out these soldiers.
Drawing on my magic, which was rusty with disuse, I made myself into shadow. Blending into the dusk, I drifted through the front gate and towards the group of soldiers. I avoided the men and went under the carriage, where I released my hold on the magic and solidified.
“We should divide up her chest. Who knows what other gems she’s hiding?” asked one of the soldiers.
“You don’t get a share. You already have her necklace,” complained one of the others. “And you got to touch her breasts.”
“Damn right I did. And man, I know why she’s a sex servant. They were made for a man’s pleasure.”
I saw red and my fangs dropped, and I had to grab the axle of the carriage to avoid jumping them. I reminded myself that I had to find that chest. Those were Ember’s belongings, and these men weren’t going to have them.
I crawled to the luggage rack behind the carriage, checking to make sure no one was around. All of the soldiers were gathered around a fire, eating food. I stood and immediately spotted a plain chest with the initials E.A.A in gold script. Grabbing it, I snuck back under the carriage and opened it.
Inside were women’s clothes, shoes, and makeup. This was Ember’s chest. Biting my lip, I changed it to shadow and sent it to the courtyard. I could feel the drain on my magic, and the pull of weariness. But I had to get her necklace back.
I don’t know if it was just luck, or if my magic somehow seeped out, but the man holding the necklace started walking over here, throwing over his shoulder, “I gotta take a leak!”
My fangs dropped. I stalked up the nearest tree, my hunter’s instincts kicking in as he moved beyond the view of the other soldiers. I kept parallel to him in the trees and when he stopped, I dropped silently behind him and covered his mouth.
“She is not your plaything,” I growled quietly, then chomped on the vein in his neck. I sucked his blood as he squirmed, and my hand muffled his cry for help. Soon, he was dry, I was full, and he was limp in my arms. I took the necklace from his trouser pocket, hefted the body over my shoulder, and turned us all to shadow.
Once I deposited the body in a nearby graveyard, I headed back to the castle.
Comments (3)
See all