Draconess

I did not have time to research spells or cast my own experiments with the dead. I had one idea of soul swapping, one experience to draw from. Andoll had been exposed to such an evil spell – and it split her mind in two. The reason Aisha did not invade Andoll’s body, was Andoll’s strength. She fought and she won.

Who was to say I would surrender to my body being – I gulp at the thought – possessed... but what if… I didn’t resist at all?

Basic rules for bringing back the dead? Without research; a life for a life, or a deal with the Devil. I was done bargaining with him – since that led to more trouble than it was worth.

So, this time, it would be a life for a life.

Torrent, an old Mystifyer with every knowledge of magic within his ancient mind – is my helper as I steal a dagger from his royal belt and swiftly back off into the fountain.

Tor watches me in confusion for my sudden leap to action.

“I’m going to slit my wrists and you’re going to bring Aisha back,” I tell Torrent, “I will allow her to enter my vessel – my body.”

Torrent’s eyes widen.

He considers what I’ve said and it takes him a moment or two to think about my offer.

And then, Tor’s brows droop back down, in conclusion.

“Darling. You are too good and wholesome of soul for a demoness – indeed – a Draconess,” Torrent speaks solemnly, “…and I will not choose Aisha over you,” he seems to be speaking casually, until he adds, with a deceptive drawl, “…I’ll rather take an opportunity to have both.”

Before I can ask him what or how, before the dagger in my palm can cut into my veins and before I can follow through with my plan to distract and dismantle Rey’s lethal return… Torrent does exactly what I asked of him.

He steps in and takes control of the situation.

A hand is on his sword, as Torrent turns and flings the heavy thing through the crowd.

It whistles – it travels that damn fast.

Yet, it doesn’t cut a hair on any civilian.

But it finds the jeering, joyful little witch tap dancing around Lixar in the middle of a crowd.

The way it cracks her ribs apart as it thuds into her heart – is the loudest sound I’ve ever heard.

“Daemonium Aisha voca, from the Hellfire, exodus… fio… verum,” as Torrent chants, he turns to take the Torquem steel from my waist. He untwists it and then it somehow flies through the air, twirling on the hilt of Torrent’s sword, pulling it out, then helping to fly the weapon back to his hand through the air.

Sword, sheathed, and the Torquem steel, Torrent wraps around his fist.

Andoll falls in a heap, while the crowd stumble back screaming.

“I summon you, Aisha – and I hold your lead, so rise up,” Torrent commands the whole crowd, even Lixar is frozen and Zarcar is still in my throne, as they watch Andoll’s body start to convulse, spurting both blood and fire into the air.

No!

I watch her two horse sized dragons, leap from the chest in roaring fear – as Hellfire burns Andoll.

I’ve fallen to my knees at this point, into the fountain water, numb as I see her start to combust.

It’s so gruesome, yet Torrent waits patiently.

Torrent even looks toward Zarcar, who is gazing at his older brother with an expression of disbelief.

“You said the spell wrong the first time, you idiot,” Torrent teases his lil’ brother, while fairly unfazed – then Tor seems to remember me, and he looks back at me briefly, about to weep my despair into this water around me, “You asked, you received what you wanted, Draconess Chyronex.”

The crowd gasps, but not from our little interaction.

I look past Torrent, as he also looks to see a steaming, naked body of Andoll – reshaped to be a little different. Hunched over and walking forward, every step toward Torrent is clearly painful.

“Come here, that’s it, my dear,” Torrent’s tone rumbles eloquently, while Aisha – assumedly – approaches his hand and the ‘lead’ which was the Torquem steel.

I had no idea it had connections to her.

And I did not have time to fight Zarcar on this.

I simply watch as she keeps her head down, her mouth unmoving, while Tor presses his palm to her cheek and raises her head. She doesn’t meet his eyes, but she does seem to find mine quite quickly, just behind him.

I look for Andoll in Andoll’s changed face. She’s there, I think, a terrified, trapped soul within, while the features remain neutral, as Aisha fights for control – total this time.

And she does it while looking at me, hoping I see the death of my friend.

Her eyes say so much.

Her voice too, slithers its way into my head.

Tinted with Hellfire, where she resided before this.

I’m not only back in the realm of the living, Chyronex, there’s only one spot for a strong Draconess in a Venatores as powerful as this … my Venatores. MINE. You are a little girl with no hope to fight for it. Consider yourself wisely before you make your next choices.

No.

Bitch.

I am not just a Draconess.

I am an Empress now.

I prepare to reply with this, as I stand from the fountain.

However – other crowd members of this dinner and celebration in Swendula’s Square, start to part like water for another arrival on horseback.

Rather, on a midnight Centaur, sits a naked Immortal King who’s ridden out of Hell on Asmodeus’ back. Rey’s ashy, and his silver inked eyes are straight and focused – but not on me.

He watches Aisha’s back.

Rey is so focused on his long lost lover, the one he always wanted and dreamed of having back.

Now was my only chance to catch him off guard.

Only this time I would not kill Rey, since it was useless.

I just had to lock him in the dungeons, and curse the hell out of him to keep him underground.

I stand up from the fountain, clenching my fists, my eyes focused on the Immortal King – looking rather thin and dehydrated. He hops off Asmodeus’ back – a few feet from Torrent and the bitch.

“I’m deluded,” Rey speaks outright, his need to regain control is completely obliterated as Andoll – now Aisha, turns from Torrent to face Rey with a sickly sweet and beautiful smile full of white brilliant teeth, and soft tulip pink lips.

“My King, Rey,” Aisha’s speaking voice is angelic, compared to the demon hiss she let rip on my headspace.

Rey struggles to smile – and I notice his pale skin turns a little… blue almost.

Rey – Immortal, important and as tough as a fucking cockroach that won’t die – trips on his own feet and collapses from exhaustion and lack of blood.

He falls before Aisha – knocked out cold.

I breathe out a long exhale, the fog is dense with the moisture of my frustrated breath.

I brought back Aisha, for nothing.

My friend Andoll was dead again, for nothing.

“MOVE,” I step out of the fountain and I shove past Torrent and the bitch to grab Rey’s hair, dragging him with me, “I AM STILL THE EMPRESS!” I screech it like a banshee toward the crowd, truly distraught and distressed.

Aisha boldly keeps in a laugh, while Lixar, Zarcar and Torrent look on as I take Rey from the crowd on my own – and even Asmodeus looks on, arms crossed, his black pits for eyes, watching me carefully.

Fucking horse man.

Fucking dead bitch.

Fucking half Vampyre prick.

Fucking useless, lying Venatores.

I’m fucking alone, and my fucking choice in Second betrayed me again from withholding the truth about the Torquem fucking steel.

Tonight’s ascension to Empress wasn’t going so well after all.

The only positive? I was locking Rey up.

That was a fucking start.