More questions haunt me in the night.
Thankfully, Umbra is eager to answer. The two of us are nuzzled together in her giant bed and secluded within the peaceful confines of her personal chambers. I'm laying on my back, totally enclosed within Umbra's arms, legs, wings, and tail. She's laying on her side, holding me to her chest like I'm a doll, and this time, I'm all too happy to be such. Never have I felt this safe. Nor this adored. Nor this cherished. But she makes me feel not just wanted, but yearned for. I love it.
I'm not sure if I love her yet. But…
Well, I might not be against the idea…
She's kissing my head, playing with my hair in her claws, and scratching at my horns too. Her soft voice resonates all around me as she murmurs, "What troubles you so, little rose? How might I be of assistance?"
I stare up at the drapes dangling from the ceiling, unsure of how I'm feeling. "You."
"Me? Hm." Her heavy hand settles flat on my middle, warm and protective. "Very well. As I've said… Anything you ask, Crimsy. Anything you wish to know. What are you thinking of, hm?"
"Settesia. The Overgrowth. You attacked Avi, and I was summoned. Why did you do that? Why did you wipe out an entire nation of mortals?"
"Ahh… For one simple reason, driven by a simple foundation. The foundation is that I am at war with Aurora. The reason is that such attacks upon Avi draw her attention. Thus, she dispatches heavenly draconids. Thus, we receive potential allies, and the opportunity to imprison or execute her forces. As you are aware, our numbers are few. Converting draconids who are sent to fight against us is our primary source of recruitment. And so, you understand, the bigger mess we make…"
"The more draconids she sends. Or the more powerful." I nod, holding her hand atop me. "But to end so many mortal lives over a conflict they never had any part in…"
"Cruel indeed. I do not deny that. And I make no excuses. These deaths are means to an end. Nothing more than that."
I don't know how to feel about that. "Means to an end. What is the end?"
"Aurora's execution."
"Hm. You certainly don't sugar coat things."
"I told you. The bloody truth. No embellishments."
"That much is appreciated. Um. So how did I end up being the only one summoned?"
"Mm. I tend to… manipulate things, within the mortal realm. The summoning ritual in particular. In some ways, I am able to control who they summon. However, ultimately the end result is subject to the incomprehensibly juvenile whims of mortalkind. I know not why those chose you, and only you. Who can possibly know what those senseless little things are thinking?"
"That's fair enough. So it was mere chance. I see." Taking a breath, I mindlessly pick at the beds of her huge claws, digging out a few specks of dirt. "But then you captured me."
"Indeed. We aim to capture most draconids. Some in particular are to be executed on sight, but only those who we are certain cannot or will not be converted, those who have dealt us significant harm, or those who Aurora keeps close within her favor. Key targets, so to speak."
"Right. So… Do you… Keep many of your prisoners as pets?"
"No, little rose," she giggles, tapping my nose with the tip of her tailblade. "On occasion, yes, but only as a means of humiliation or ridicule, and never with the extent of care, comfort, or attention you received. You are quite special in that regard. And so many others."
There's a flutter in my stomach. "But… Why me?"
"A few things in particular… With which you caught my attention and stirred my curiosity. First… Yes, why you? Why only you? I expected far more draconids for an attack of that scale. I was inclined to learn more about you. This much… It earned your place in my dungeons."
Well. That's oddly flattering.
"When I came to you… And we spoke…" She trails off, smiling a little more. "You engaged with me. Most others snivel and quiver and beg. But you remained defiant. Proud. And charming too. When I was asking about your colors, and envisioning your shape… It was as if… You set aside your contempt for me, in a sense. On occasion, you fought against me in this regard. But for the most part… You accommodated my blindness. As much as you hated and feared me… There you went… listing shades of red. Making certain I knew your colors. You helped me to see you. That, Crimsy… That made me want to keep you."
I'm smiling brighter than she is. "Of course I did. I wasn't going to scorn you simply for being blind, was I? Your evils, certainly, but not something like that!"
"You would be surprised. Many other heavenly draconids tend to wield it against me. It's the one thing they have that I don't… They feel superior, in this one way. And they seize upon it to deride me."
"That's fucking horrendous. Shame on them."
"Agreed… Shame on them. For that much…"
I kiss her soft, bare chest beside my head and try to lighten things a touch. "And so you kept me on a leash as your new pet wyvern. Was that your way of rewarding me?"
With that, I manage to draw out another giggle from her. "Something like that. Yes. But… I had other reasons too."
"Oh? Such as?"
"Converting you." She pauses, feeling at my waist and down my hip. "If I had let you off your leash, you would've fled. I needed to keep you close. In time, I thought… Perhaps you would grow more ready to listen. To hear the truth. To hear me."
Her touch feels enticing, but my chest hollows out at the mention of this. "But I fought you every step of the way."
"Of course you fought me. I expected that. The task of chipping away at your certainty… At your belief… It required patience. And an understanding. Your worldview being challenged… It's difficult for anyone to bear without intense emotions. That much was no issue."
"And then I screamed that tirade of mine…"
"Yes. I knew then… You weren't ready. You needed time. You needed to look into these things yourself. It was one thing for me to tell it to you. It was another to investigate on your own. Yes, I had a feeling, when I let you go… That you wouldn't forget me. Or my words. You would indeed seek the truth. And, as I said earlier… Someday, I hoped… You would come back to me."
I turn inward to face her, arms around her neck for a long embrace shared between us. "Here I am. You were right. About everything. I'm sorry I didn't believe you."
"Why would you?" Her hands hold me to her chest. "I never expected you to. You're listening now. You hear me. That's what's important."
"I do. And I'm not going anywhere."
"I expect not. You're still on your leash."
"It's much softer this time. The leather is nice."
"Ah… I'm glad. It's enchanted. Even if you shift forms…"
"Ohh. Good to know. We could have some fun with that."
"Mhmm. We haven't had sex in draconic form yet…"
"I imagine we'll need some more space for that."
"Yes. I'm likely to fuck you so hard it causes a cave-in."
"Hells, Umbsy… You'll drive me mad…"
"You're already mad, Crimsy. For me…"
"Mad indeed…"
She kisses me deep, her slender black tongue rolling around mine as she tastes my mouth. Our hands exploring, our legs tangling, or bodies pressing together, the two of us share a long moment of wholehearted and passionate affections before she does the unthinkable.
Umbra pulls away. "Any other troubles, my sweet rose? Please… Allow me to soothe your mind… and then I will soothe your body…"
My heart tugs in my chest and I groan as I press myself against her. "Damn it… If you insist on building anticipation."
"I assure you nothing of the sort crossed my mind."
"Liar." I steal one more kiss. "Tell me a few things. They'll be quick."
"Anything, Crimsy."
"What happened with Nyth? He sacrificed himself to defeat you."
"A lie. I had nothing to do with it. Nyth sacrificed himself to bridge the three domains to one another for eternity. Heavens and Hells, Avi in between. It was a show of good faith. An attempt at making things right between his mother and I."
"That… makes perfect sense, actually. You threw Vitalius into the void."
"The truth. You know exactly why."
"Hah. You failed to kill him. I didn't."
"And you deserve to be heralded as a hero for it, my darling."
"No, you're supposed to be cross with me. Not praise me."
"Oh? You dislike my praise?"
"N–No. I love it. But… I was trying to tease you."
"And I shut it down, did I not? Sheer power."
"Hells. Incorrigible. What about Legend Shax? Cleaved in two?"
"Truth. Warfare."
"Saint Carmine? Flayed alive?"
"Truth. Though not by my hand. I told Rakshai to be creative with the execution. That was the result."
"On your orders. You're evil."
"I've never denied my malevolence, yes."
"That must have hurt him quite a lot. Don't you care?"
"Not particularly. We ate well that week."
"Hells, you're… I can't tell if you're teasing me."
"Half the fun, isn't it? What else, Crimsy?"
"You incinerated the Archbay. Where Aurora birthed the Moons."
"Lie. The Archbay is a large body of water."
"But you burned the coastlines. Or something…"
"Ah. Yes, that much is true. I believe I was drunk at the time."
"Incorrigible. What about the other Vitalius? Legend Vitalius, wielder of the Solar Shield. You broke it, and then smashed his head open."
"Lie. I used the Shield to smash his head open. It never broke at all. I have it still, though it's in Avadyrr's hands now. The Third Thorn."
"Wha–Why? Why did you do that?"
"Warfare."
"I meant keeping the Shield! And why did they tell us it was broken?"
"As a trophy. Aurora loathes that her precious toys are mine now. Better to say they were broken to spare herself the shame."
"Then I assume the same is true of the Sunbeam?"
"Indeed. Violet's now. Seventh Thorn."
"And therefore you did in fact impale Legend Charybdis with your tailblade."
"Truth. Warfare."
"What about Legends Xayr and Jalik? You tore off the former's head and then used it to eviscerate the latter. No?"
She fails to suppress a short laugh. "Truth."
And then I'm laughing too at the sheer absurdity.
The two of us meet tongues again for a few minutes.
"Did you or did you not attempt to launch Avi into the Solaris?"
"Attempt to? I succeeded. Aurora managed to prevent it, but otherwise it was indeed on a collision course."
"Umbsy! That's terrible!"
"Yet you're titillated at the thought that I hold such power…"
A gasp of alarm rattles in my throat. My cheeks burn.
"Hmmm." She sticks her trimmed finger in my mouth and smiles as she feels around, purring, "Any other pressing questions, little one?"
"A–Ah," I attempt to get out around her huge finger. My voice is warped by the obstruction. "Hah… hreffing…"
"Hm? What was that, my dear?"
"Mmmm…" I bemoan, heart racing.
"We'll talk more in the morning. It's time I took care of your needy body, sweet Crimsy. Come here, poor thing. Spread your legs for me and give in. I'll reward you with pleasure like you've never experienced before. Enough to drown in, my sweet. Very good. I do so enjoy when you're obedient…"
With a sharp tug on my leash, she makes me hers.
Hells. I've ended up exactly where I need to be.
With her. The Fallen Queen. Umbra.
I might even dare to say… I'm happy.