I'm laying on a giant raft. That raft is Umbra.
We're both on our backs in the hot springs, and I'm splayed out on her torso as we both float at the hot springs' surface. She's so much bigger than me that my whole body fits perfectly, without having to scrunch up or mind my feet hanging off. Back on my skyland in my own pools, I thought I had relaxation figured out. But this beats any other means I've ever tried.
Wet skin. Wet scales. Hot water. My giant mate.
"This…" I exhale with a grin. "Now this is the life…"
When she hums her musical laugh, I feel it all around me. "I thought you might like it… Is this warm enough for you?"
"Perfection. Thank you." I wriggle my tail. It's wrapped around hers, dangling beneath the water. Hers wriggles right back. That makes me smile, and I let out another contented sigh. "So…"
"So…"
Her wings pull us along, farther out from the banks to where thousands and thousands of glowing gemstones of all different colors adorn the cavernous ceiling. I had no idea this was here, and my mouth drops agape as I try to take it every shade. There are so fucking many. I've never seen anything like it.
"Hells, Umbsy. Did you arrange all those?"
"Yes. I can… see them. A little. All the colors. They blend together in blurs, but it's pretty. In its own way. I wish I could show you what I see. But…" She sighs, taking a fistful of water to let it fall over me like a brief shower. "Wretched. Being Wretched… What do you know? What have they… led you to believe?"
"Well, lots of things. The Wretched cannot be exposed to the sun, for example, or the Goddess–" I stop myself with a groan of disgust. "Or Aurora will destroy them from the Solaris."
"That much is… the partial truth. Yes, Aurora will destroy them. That is the only reason they cannot face the Solaris. Not as though the sun is lethal. It is her doing that makes it so."
"Ah. Of course it is. Wonderful. Um. The Wretched can never reach the Heavens. I know that."
"For the very same reason."
"What? So you–They can? They could? If not for her?"
"Indeed."
"Hells. She's just awful, isn't she?"
"She wasn't always so. But… Yes."
"I'm sorry, Umbra." I tighten my tail around hers. "I can't begin to imagine how much she's hurt you. To have someone you love betray you like that, and then go to all these lengths to scorn you… It's just evil. That's pure malice, and what she's done to you is wrong."
My voice softly echoes.
Umbra and I float in silence.
"That doesn't excuse my evils."
"No, but it's a damn good reason for them."
It's quiet again. Water drips somewhere.
"I do not want to talk about this."
"Oh. O–Okay. That's okay. We don't have to."
"Back to the topic of Wretchedness."
"Um. But… Umbsy? Are you mad at me?"
"I'm not. I'm only… unprepared to face the topic. Not right now. I prefer if we discuss simpler matters, for the time being. Things with… straightforward and uncomplicated answers. We are resting. Soaking. Floating…"
"Oh. That we are. Yes, floating. Another time."
"Yes, another time. Gladly."
"Right. Um. I've been told the Wretched are in constant agony and torment, on account of the thorn vines stabbing into them."
"Yes, torturing my own forces. I'm certain that will inspire loyalty. Completely fucking ridiculous."
"I never could've guessed you were so sarcastic."
"You're seeing a different side of me. Only you." She gives me another handful of warm water. "Some pretenses are… useful. Tactful. I cannot… and will not… be this casual. With my subjects. But with you…"
My heart blooms. "Aww. Umbsy… You can't see it, but I'm smiling ear to ear right now."
She softly laughs, and I move with it. "I can hear it… on your voice. On your tongue. Ahh… It must be… so beautiful a smile…"
I roll over face down and kiss her chest, lightly brushing my claws over her ghostly pale skin. "Is there nothing that can be done? About your blindness?"
"Nothing. But I don't mind it much anymore. Except in… specific instances. Like this one. In any case…"
"Mm. Right. I've heard… Well, that the Wretched are under completely your control. They're corrupted. Or perhaps compliant. And they'll do anything you tell them to. Like… mind control. You supposedly puppet them from the shadows, as if the rose vines are their strings."
"You've attended my court. Do you believe that to be true?"
"Apparently not. They're still themselves individually. But…"
"No, Crimsy. Another lie. They do as I command because they respect, trust, and admire me. Their compliance is entirely willful. There is no mental alteration to the state of being Wretched."
"Thank you for explaining that."
"Mm. I can, however, hypnotize and beguile you into compliant submission… With magic…"
"Yes, please. Yes, please. Please. Yes."
"You certainly are a fun little plaything…"
I'm rendered speechless, stunned, and unbearably consumed by desire.
"I suppose that addresses most things," she sighs, taking me along with the rise and fall of her chest. "To be Wretched means swearing fealty. Pledging yourself to my cause. Dying for it, if necessary. The Wretched are my soldiers, generals, leaders, and aids. There is no malaise nor pathology to this–it is a mark of loyalty. With it… I grant them fragments of my power. How that manifests is dependent upon the individual. And what blessings I choose to bestow."
"Plutoryl referred to my lack of even a single rose. Do the blossoms signify anything?"
"Yes. The more of my power I grant a Wretched draconid, the more blooms they will have. This tends to correspond with rank. Or prestige. Or favor."
"That makes sense. What kind of effects do these blessings have?"
"Numerable. Enhancements, skills, abilities, powers, might, magic, and so on."
I kick my feet and grin. "What would you give me?"
She huffs quiet amusement. "Anything and everything, my little rose. First and foremost, you would share in my immortality. Whatever else your heart desires, I shall give to you. In every sense. Not only blessings…"
"Immortality? With you?" I snicker a little, kicking my feet some more. "I quite like the sound of that."
"I'm certain you do. We'll have a lovely time of it…"
As she splashes more water over me, I ask, "Why have you been hesitant to do this to me?"
"Ahh… A number of reasons… You have been grieving. I could not abide any semblance of taking advantage of that vulnerability. Likewise… This is no common promise. To become Wretched… There is no turning back. Once anyone, including you, swears fealty to me in this fashion… You are forever mine. And you will be held to that oath. It is… not something to be taken lightly…"
I want to protest but I remain quiet, thinking all this through. It is a serious commitment. At this point, I'm aligned with her in our goals to take Aurora down. But what comes after that? An eternity is a long time. And my main concern is fairly obvious to me.
"On the off chance something were to happen between us…"
"Yes, that is something to address… This comes perilously close to wielding my power over you. It's too easy for it to… become tangled… And if ever you grow resentful toward or weary of me… Yes. It would be horrid to force you into continued service… I am considering an exception for you. For you alone. Because of this. I would allow you to freely annul your fealty. Yes. That will be so. If you choose to become Wretched, I will make certain of that stipulation."
"Thank you. That makes me feel much better about it. Um. But what about the blessings I would have? The immortality you'd give me?"
"They would be retained. In full. In perpetuity."
"Then what are we waiting for? I want to be Wretched."
"You're certain? This is your final decision?"
Sitting up on her stomach, my hands on her chest as I lean forward, I tell her, "It is. I believe in you. I believe in your cause. I want to devote myself to you, and I want to fight with you. For you. For us. Please. I don't want to just be your pet and your mate. I want to be someone you can rely on too. I want to be yours, Umbra. Please."
"Ahh…" With the sound of her quiet little moan, she takes hold of my thighs on either side of her, smiling brighter than I've ever seen her smile. "There. I'm convinced. I want to own you. Every part of you. Completely. Yes… I will make you mine. Wretched."
"Thank you." I smile down at her, enjoying the view. "What's next? How do we do this?"
"It begins with the blood ritual."
"Oh! Should–Should I be afraid?"
"Perhaps a touch…"
She darts off toward the banks in a blink.
Soon enough, I will be Wretched.