First off some updates to readers of my other series. For the moment my Dragon Age series is on hiatus until I can decide whether to just continue it, go back and fix some of the plot in the first installment, or completely re-write the series and keeping the basic story elements introduced through out the series. Any opinions would greatly help. I have every intention of finishing the series, I just need to decide what the next step should be. Now for my Resident Evil series, which isn't as popular but still important to me, I am waiting until I finish Revelations 2, since some elements in the game were going to be used in my story, but will now need to be changed. As always, if there are any questions feel free to PM me, I'm more than happy to answer.
Now onto this story here. I've been playing a lot of Destiny—and I mean a lot. Not exactly sure if this is something I will continue, considering the recent Taken King trailer, but I wanted to get back into writing. So why not start something new? As most of my first chapters are, this is very brief to establish the basics of the story since I haven't entirely worked out the plot. It takes place before the end of the game, and will most likely move into House of Wolves if I continue. Anyways, enjoy.
1
"It bleeds..."
The Queen spoke with an unrivaled nonchalance and a mild amount of curiosity that quickly drew the room's audience to the lone Guardian and her Ghost.
Kore was dusted from head to toe in red sand, a consequence of coming to the Reef directly from her recent mission on Mars. She had the Gate Lord's eye—but a dead one. So between reconning the planet for a means to wake the eye, the Guardian was dutifully making good on her promise to answer the Awoken's call. Her last mission had been a close call. Between the Vex and the Cabal raging war against the other, Kore had barely made it to the shadow of a rock when her sparrow was caught in the cross-fire. Amidst the chaos, she had taken a rifle shot from the Vex, cutting clear through her Vanguard Bond and leaving part of her upper arm in shreds.
Surprised by the sudden attention, the Warlock pressed her hand over the open wound and slightly turned away to avert further interest from the throne. Sharp, stinging pain shot down her arm as her fingers grazed the shredded flesh, causing blood to flow down her gauntlet. None the less, the Guardian bit back any sounds of her discomfort and remained the diligent agent the Queen had been relying on for several months now. However, Ghost quickly reversed Kore's attempt to hide the injury by suddenly scanning the length of her arm and muttering in great detail the extend of her damage.
She pushed Ghost away with an opened palm and shot him a soft glare. "It is nothing," she answered the Queen carefully, "Your Grace."
An amused scoff came from the Queen's side, as her advisor and brother crossed his arms, staring apathetically at Kore with his glowing yellow eyes. She carried his gaze momentarily before quickly averting her eyes to the ground. The Warlock pressed harder against her arm, feeling blood now begin to soak into the fabric of her gloves. Again, Ghost hovered worriedly at her side, but the Guardian stood steadfast and awaited further direction from the Queen—of which she hoped would be a quick dismissal from the court.
From her throne, the Queen, sank back into her chair with renewed curiosity. She casually curled a finger at her guards and one stepped forward to heed the summon. "Prepare a room for the Guardian and its ball," she said, silencing the room. Her order promptly elicited a disgruntled choke from her brother, who again shot Kore a sharp glare before turning towards his sister with protest.
" I am honored, Your Grace," the Guardian quickly answered with a shake of her head, "but I cannot impose on the kindness you have already shown me."
Ghost swiftly objected. "Yes we can," he muttered loud enough for the entire court to hear, whilst putting himself at eye level with Kore. She gave him a look, but the 'little light' ignored her. "We barely made it to orbit," he reminded her, "You barely made it to orbit—"
Kore stepped in front of Ghost, her usually soft composition replaced with a stern facade. "I am the Guardian here," the Warlock said uncharacteristically sharp, causing Ghost to flinch mid-air. His lens narrowed at her.
"You're not my Guardian," Ghost promptly snapped back.
She recoiled from the bite in his tone, eyes dropping back to the floor. Ghost swung closer to Kore apologetically, but was interrupted by an amused chuckle. "It would appear the Guardian thinks herself too good for our help," the Queen's brother, Uldren Sov, exclaimed quite smugly. Kore knew very little about the Queen's advisor, aside from his name and the fact he was always there whenever she was summoned to the Reef. In some cases, it was the Prince of Crows himself that would provide Kore with her next task from the Queen. Never failing to be disapproving of her very existence with each and every visit. Even now he was grinning condescendingly, pleased with the Guardian's quarrel with her ghost.
He stepped down from the Queen's throne and stood at Kore's level. "If she wants to leave, let her," he said loud enough for the Queen to hear and keep his intense gaze matched with the Guardian. "We don't owe this Guardian a thing," he growled, sneering as he gave her the once over.
However, the Queen's curiosity was only heightened. "I must insist," she finally said in a tone that couldn't be argued. At that she stood, "What would your Speaker say of the Reef if I allowed it to return bleeding in its broken ship?" Kore knew in that moment she wouldn't be leaving the Reef anytime soon and resorted to a defeated sigh—there was no refusing the Queen.
Ghost floated close again, "She insists."
By now, Kore was beyond frustrated, tired, and the pain in her arm was beginning to throb. Her resolve was beyond defeated. Nodding, the Guardian looked past Uldren towards the Queen, "Of course Your Grace, if you'll have us." The guard tasked with escorting the Guardian and her ghost stepped forward and waved a curt hand towards the door. Kore bowed her head to the Queen and quickly followed the guard out of the throne room.
All the while Uldren's eyes followed her, unsatisfied with his sister's invitation. He never did understand her keen interest in the Guardian, or to what purpose she ultimately had to continue the relationship with her. Sure the Warlock had proved herself formidable when she returned with the Gate Lord's head and had since heeded every summon the Queen made without question, but it still wasn't enough to warrant the good graces of Uldren himself. Once the Guardian's footsteps were nothing but a soft echo in the distance, he turned back towards the throne, "If I may speak freely, I do not deem it wise to to house the Guardi—"
"Your eyes follow it," the Queen interrupted, catching the Prince off guard.
Uldren grimaced and deflected the statement, "I am simply making sure the Guardian knows her place."
The Queen's expression never changed and remained unconvinced by her brother's reply. "It does as I ask without so much a peep of hesitation," she went on to say, descending the steps past him. "Perhaps," she said over her shoulder as she paused in her step, "It will stay until I've found a new task—"
"Why?" It was now Uldren's turn to interject, perplexed by his sister's lack of concern. "She is not one of us. Why do you carry such interest in this Guardian?"
A rare grin crossed the Reef Queen's pale lips. "Because dear brother," she said as she lifted a hand towards his face, "Your eyes follow it."