The City Seven
Chapter Two
Allure coughed the murky water through her gills. Three days had passed since she'd woken up at the bottom of a river. She couldn't tell which one, but it was obviously nowhere near the Crosswings' kingdom, judging by the fact that she was surrounded by pureblood seawings, all giving her disgusted looks every chance they got.
Allure hated the feeling of slippery silt and moss between her claws. The steel chains around all four of her ankles kept her from going near the surface, even though she could almost stick out a wingtip. Brown fish kept swimming up to her. She'd eat them if they got close enough.
Her eyes weren't well enough adapted to see beyond a few feet in front of her snout.
This river is so disgusting, Allure thought as a swarm of piranha rushed past her. A pink dolphin with an odd shaped face paced from bank to bank, making annoying clicky sounds.
The seawings were all being unusually grumpy today. They looked tired, and annoyed and talked really fast in aquatic. Allure had barely slept, but she was still too scared of the dragons around her to rest. Observing the seawings, she'd learned that a big blue dragon with a huge purple scar on her jaw was in charge.
What happened to the dragons who stole me? That Rainwing was really skilled. It had to have been a rainwing, otherwise someone would've seen them carrying me. I wonder if they've ever snatched anyone else. The nightwing was scary. But, then I guess nightwings are always scary.
Suddenly a huge shadow flew over the river. All the seawings snapped to attention. A new seawing dove into the river. He swam right up to the leader, flashed some aquatic that Allure couldn't understand, and beckoned the others to follow him.
A green seawing, a bit smaller than Allure swam up and unlocked her binds from the river floor, and locked them to each other.
Finally, I can breathe real air! Allure's excitement drowned as she broke the surface with the others. A large nightwing was standing at the edge of the river. Behind him, a huge red skywing, and two more big, blue Seawings.
Allure recognized all of them on sight. Queen Rose, of the skywings; One hundred thirty years old; She came to power just before the Hybrid War of Independence.
Queen Mazarine, of the Seawings. Already having killed three challengers in ten years of being queen. Her mate, King Cerulean. He was scary. Black tattoos of large sea animals covered his scales. He had bloodshot eyes and big claws.
The nightwing was the dragon she'd seen a few days before, in her queendom.
Allure looked back at the river, wanting to go back to the quietness.
"That little monstrosity is our leverage? They'll never want a creature like that back. I bet they'll give us what we want if we threaten to give her back!" Snapped Mazerine.
"The queen is even worse. It's disgusting. And the worst part about this whole mess, is that dragons are so mixed up, you can't even tell what they are anymore." The nightwing added, gesturing with his tail at the little princess,
Allure was speechless. What is happening?
The Skywing Stepped forward. "Foreteller! Where is the Night Queen? The days grow fewer. I am starting to question your tribe's ability. SoulHaunter should do things herself. You minions aggravate me."
"With all due respect, your majesty, Queen SoulHaunter, has a duty to her tribe!" Foreteller hissed.
"As do I! And my duty is to keep the skywings safe, and our land prosperous. But since the Crosswings' invasion, it has grown increasingly difficult to keep my citizens from blood contamination! Especially from you and your tribe of deceitful scheming-" Rose was cut off by an abrupt yawn from Mazrine.
"Would you all calm down? We have a little problem to solve. As Queen Grace has refused to respond to our demands, I think we should just kill the rest of the heirs, and then kill her, Leaving this poor pathetic mess as the only possible queen, and then we can make her do whatever we want."
Allure let out a small yelp at the seawing's brutality. What does she mean? Mother hasn't sent anyone to help me? I am going to die. I am seriously going to die.
Queen Rose flicked her tongue "Let's just go tell her ourselves. If she doesn't yield from her position as queen. The precious little freak dies."
