Hello! Damn, I didn't realize this chapter was so long. Either way, this story contains elements from different cultures and myths. All OCs belong to their rightful owners! I apologize for any grammatical errors. This chapter came out much faster than I ever expected.
"Who...Who are you? What are you?" The young man asked, the beast before him chuckling softly, almost gently despite the grim situation.
"I am a dragon, lest your sight is going bad. I may be able to help you with that, then." The voice was female, though the young man could not tell the color of her body, over than she seemed to glow amidst the darkness, as if the dragoness had a white aura surrounding her very being.
"No, my eyes are fine. Though thank you, I just...I was just caught off guard." He replied, clearing his throat.
"Relax. I'm joking." She replied, once more chuckling softly, voice calm and motherly.
"Yes, well, I am Silas of Regensburg. May I ask your name, dragon?"
"Asking dragons their names is offensive in our society." The female stated, Silas falling into an awkward silence as he stammered, "Oh. Well, then, I am-"
"I am joking. You don't know how to take jokes very well, do you?" The light hued dragon asked, head cocking slightly in amusement, "My name is Eve."
"Eve? Do dragons have Hebrew names?" Silas asked, curiosity rising as Eve looked upon him, eyes squinting, as if in study.
"What is Hebrew?"
"I-" The man was interrupted as a roar echoed throughout the chambers, the pair peering outside their cell to get a better look at the spectacle below them. The pair looked on in horror at the scene before them, two moles pitted against a massive varg, easily the size of a man despite being on all fours.
"Mellony, stay behind me!" A much larger mole cried, pushing the girl behind him.
"But Papa-"
"No buts, Melly! Just listen to me!" The father cried, effectively putting himself between offspring and hunter. The wintered varg stood well over a foot taller than the small creatures, eyes red and unfocused, a massive scar running down the left side from ear to jaw. The wolf's maw opened, massive canines gleaming in the torches' light.
"Get back! Get back, you beast! Leave us alone!"
"Daddy! I'm scared!" The girl cried, pudgy body pressed against her parent as the varg approached, sniffing.
"You are no threat to me. Even with my lack of sight, I can see that. I can see that well. I have no desire to kill you, but I promise you this: I shall make it quick." The beast spoke, voice soft before lunging at the pair, the father pushing the girl out of the way as the varg slammed into a upturned slab, roaring.
"Melly, run!" The father urged, pushing the girl forward as she cried, the wolf leaping in front of the girl in a single bound.
"Be still!" He hissed softly, striking for the child as his canines pierced soft flesh, a scream of pain echoing through the caverns as the father wailed, having pushed his kin out of harm's way.
"Papa!" Mellody cried in terror, the monster holding her father by his arm, a loud pop resounding as the creature's bite easily snapped bone.
"Run! Run, Melly! Run!" The mole screamed, attempting to harm the varg by stabbing his eyes, but found himself outmatched in raw strength as the wolf rose on his hind legs, dropping the mole before slamming his paws upon his portly body. Over six hundred pounds of force had slammed down upon the mole, shattering his ribcage and organs, body deformed and broken.
Eve looked away from the carnage, unable to stand the sight as roars of approval erupted from the King's followers, "This is such a disgusting place! What is that thing?"
"A Volkodlak. But those are supposed to be myths." Silas replied, silently praying for the poor creature and child, who was in hiding behind a slab of rocks.
"Dragons are supposed to be myths as well to you." Eve replied, a bit bitterly from all the brutality.
"Thi...good Lord, it is going after the girl!" Silas replied, terrified as Eve refused to look, trying to block out the sounds from below.
Mellody screamed as the varg slammed into her rocky haven, the very ground seeming to shake as the slab slowly crumbled under the force.
"No! Leave me alone! Papa! I'm scared!" She cried, tears streaming down her face as the creature dug into the rock, sniffing and hearing the frantic beating of her heart. She was just underneath this slab. But how to get her? She was just mere inches away, but he could not break passed the barrier.
"Shhhh. Do not be afraid, child. I will make this quick. I will make this merciful. The others will not be so kind." He cooed, though the girl heard him not as he paused with his assault, climbing down the slab.
"Where are you?" He questioned, sniffing around as he sought an opening to her haven, eventually coming to an overhang where she had hid. From the beating of her heart, he knew she had seen him.
"Ah. There you are. I shall make this quick." He replied, voice calm as the girl remained silent, frozen in terror.
His jaws opened, blood and saliva coating his maw as he bit into her flesh, shaking her body as the girl screamed. A sudden loud creak causing the varg to let go of his quarry, ears pointed towards the source of the old gates opening into the arena, hinges protesting. He growled lowly, hearing the voice of the Dragon Priest, "Send the bodies to the Hounds. Once they are done feeding, send the bones to Amdusius."
"And the little mole?" A soldier asked, hoisting the corpse of the male mole into the air, a fellow soldier approaching the massive varg, to which the creature snapped, canines bearing.
"Her too." The Priest spoke, "To your cell, dog. Amdusius may find you to be an Elect yet."
The wolf continued to growl, though complied, the blind creature being almost gently led by a soldier.
"Wait...this one is still alive." One called, seeing the young mole breathing, though unresponsive as blood flowed freely from her wound, "Should we send her to the Healer?" The man questioned, the Priest walking towards him, head cocked as he studied the creature.
"No. Take the mole to her cell. See if she survives the bite."
"O-of course. I shall, Father." The man stammered a bit, the Dragon Priest picking up on his tone as the man scooped the small creature into his arms.
"But what?"
"It is just...It seems a cruel action. She is just a child."
"The path to Righteousness is not merciful. One must prove their worth. Remember that."
"Yes, Father." The soldier sighed, walking out of the arena, a trail of blood following in his wake.
"Do you smell that?" Eve asked, nostrils flaring as she sniffed the air, Silas looking upon her with confusion.
"Smell what? All I smell is brimstone."
"Blood." The dragoness replied, the pair hearing the sound of heavy footfalls resounding off the cavern's walls, the man stopping just to the right of their tiny cell. The sound of creaking metal scraping against stone then hit their ears as the cell door opened, a dull thud followed by a gasp being the only thing breaking the horrid noise as the cell became locked once more.
Man and dragon looked upon each other before inching closer towards the edge of their cell wall, small ventilation openings within the sides as they struggled to peer through the darkness.
"Hello? Child? How badly are you hurt?" Silas cooed, hearing nothing but pained gasps and soft sobs, "I cannot see anything. Can dragons see in the dark?"
"No, but some-Ancestors!" Eve jumped, Silas startled as he noticed a pair of red eyes staring back at them through the darkness, as if glowing, pupils predatory.
"Good God! Begone, demon! You leave that girl well enough alone!" Silas hissed, the pair of eyes rolling off to the side, the cell far too dark to tell what the creature was.
"Of course, I am going to listen to a pathetic human. You know what? I may just act on spite, now." The creature spoke, obviously female. Eve shook her head.
"Hey, hey, there's no reason for violence. Is that poor mole your cellmate? How is she?" Eve asked, the pair of eyes breaking away from them to presumably look upon the girl, swiftly snapping back to them.
"Judging by the scent of blood, not well. Not well at all. I quite like that-the scent. Though something in it smells...off." The female replied, voice distant as Silas frowned, hackles rising in unease.
"Smells off?" Even echoed, as eye crest raised in curiosity, the pair of eyes rolling.
"Of course. That thing that bit her-the blood smells, like an infection is in her blood. It must be from the bite."
"That is not creepy or anything." Silas muttered, sarcasm dripping off his voice as Eve pressed herself against the wall.
"Listen..."
"Sarana."
"...Sarana...can you bring the girl over to me? I think I can help her." Eve asked, though the eyes before them did not budge.
"Help her? Why would I help her?" Sarana questioned, eyes narrowing.
"Because she is just a child." Silas stated, "Please, do not let her father's sacrifice be in vain. You saw what happened, did you not? If you let her die you are no better than the men keeping us here."
"Letting her die won't make our situation better, Sarana. Helping her, however, would." Eve added, Sarana looking upon them before casting her red orbs to the dying girl.
Her eyes narrowed upon the young mole, weighing the chances. She could still die even if the dragon did try to bring her aid. But in this state, Sarana would not be able to feed. No, the blood was too poisoned. If the girl did live, however, that would make her a prey item. Still, perhaps leaving her to her fate would be...better? Simple? But then...she would be no better than those humans. Perhaps giving her a chance at life will increase her own chances of surviving?
"...What are you names?" Sarana asked, voice breaking the silence as the pair paused to register what she had just asked, "My answer for you names."
"I'm Eve. The human is Silas." The dragoness responded, the pair of eyes bouncing, the owner most likely nodding.
"I see...I'll help you. I just have to move the girl..." The red eyes disappeared, the pair hearing a soft grunt and the girl being dragged before her body was placed near the vent, "Is that close enough?"
Eve peered through the small window, seeing the young mole just off to the side, "Yes, that will do. Thank you."
Silas watched as the dragoness pressed her talons against the open vent, Eve closing her eyes as her talons began to glow in a soft white light. The light had illuminated her features, the dragoness of a slim, almost fragile build, her scales a wintered white with soft green upon her chest scales and exposed stomach. What shocked Silas the most, however, was her complete lack of horns. Strange, he always thought dragons had horns. Apparently he was wrong.
Eve focused her aura more, extending the light as it slowly drifted towards the wounded mole, Sarana backing away from the light in discomfort. However, with the light it was quite obvious she was another dragon, sporting a silver hue with black secondary scales, white horns appeared to be dipped in blood. The very appearance of the dragon unnerved Silas, and he instinctively did not trust the odd dragon with the little mole.
The man continued to watch in amazement as the light enveloped the girl, her rapid breaths calming as her body began to relax with the soothing energy.
"There, there...you'll be okay." Eve cooed, voice calm and gentle as the light slowly faded, Eve's back arching a bit as she felt the aura fade, sighing heavily, "That is all I can do. Hopefully she will be fine."
"Yes, hopefully. That was impressive." Silas replied, smiling through the sweat and grime upon his face as his cellmate chuckled.
"Thank you. I always enjoy entertaining others with swirly colors." She rolled her eyes playfully, looking towards the vent to see the pair of red eyes gone, lost within the darkness.
"Well...she is friendly." Silas muttered softly, voice low so the dragon could not hear.
"At least she helped the girl. That is something." The dragoness stated, the man shrugging his shoulders.
"I get a bad feeling everytime I think of her with that poor girl."
"You know what I think? I think you need some sleep." Eve replied, the man chuckling.
"If I fall asleep I will be dead to the world."
"A fair trade off, I say."
"That it is...that it is..." Silas replied, "We need to get out of here. There must be a way..."
Eve sighed, shaking her head, "Only death is certain down here. Only death is the way out."
"If only it were that easy. I have been told I am too foolish to know when to die."
"Lucky you, eh?" Eve questioned, the man snorting softly.
"Yes...lucky me."
"Shhhh, stay still." A soft voice cooed, the wintered varg moving his head, the same soldier that had led him to his cell was now attempting to clean the blood from his fur.
"Leave me be. I can clean myself." He stated, eyes looking upon the soldier, unfocused, almost passed them. A soft chuckle escaped the human, gentle and feminine.
"How, when you are blind? Oh, my poor boy..." She continued to coo softly, as if speaking to a child.
"Please, they will-"
"Shhhh. They will not find out. The cult is full of fools. They cannot even detect a woman amongst their ranks." The woman replied, hissing softly with scorn. The volkodlak fell silent, allowing the human's comforting touch to soothe the bruises and clean his fur.
"What is wrong?" The soldier asked, armor obscuring any telltale signs of her true sex, though her instincts were strong.
The wolf blinked, eyes unfocused, "...You do not smell like you used to. You smell like them. I miss the smell of the forest, and earth, and rain. This earth smells different. It isn't the earth I know. It is a different smelling earth. I do not like it, and I do not like that you smell like them, Mother. It scares me, because it is getting harder to tell if it is you. The only way I can tell you apart is by listening to your heart, Mother. It beats differently. I do not like killing. I do not like it when I hear hearts stop."
"Why? Why don't you like it?"
"Because then there is silence. Hearing certain words, hearing certain objects or actions being done...they mean nothing to me. I cannot see them, I cannot see a...a door being opened. I can feel it being opened, so I know it is real. But things like colors or sunsets...those are just words to me. They are nothing to me. Voices, and breaths, and hearts I can hear. They mean something to me. I can feel pain, and weapons, and I know they are real. But other things...I cannot. A heart stopping is real. While one cannot see it, I can hear it, so I know that is real, and I do not like it. But I kill, so I can live. I kill because I do not want to see you die, Mother. I do not want you dying for me." He sighed, ears twitching, listening for any sign of an approaching cultist.
The woman looked upon the creature, sighing as she rubbed his ears, "Don't throw your life away. You are special, not because you are my son, but because you are a hybrid. A creature that was never even meant to be conceived, yet here you are, defying those rules. I love you because you are something very rare and misunderstood. An imperfect breed, brought together by two separate bloodlines. I promise you that I will stop this cult, tear it apart from the inside out. And I promise you that you will smell the forest again, and you will be home, and safe. That is what I promise, but I need you to promise me something in return."
"What is it?" He asked, curious as the woman continued to rub his fur.
"Stay alive. Fight only if you must. And remember: No. Changing. Forms." She poked his black nose each time she spoke, the creature's ears going back with annoyance as she chuckled, "Oh, I remember when you were a baby...you lost all your fur...you looked just like any human baby..."
The male said nothing, the woman practically feeling his anxiety rising.
"...Speaking of which...I only saw you once as a human...puberty did wonders for you, I think."
"Mother..."
"Alright, alright. I'll stop being nostalgic. But seriously, Nikita, no switching forms." She stated firmly, the massive varg's ears laying flat.
"When do I transform?"
"I am just saying. Everything will be fine." She stated, voice firm with confidence, rubbing his ears once more before moving towards the cell door.
"...Everything will be fine." She stated once more, the hinges to his cell door crying in protest, the door locking.
The volkodlak whimpered slightly, ears twitching, trying to hear the familiar heartbeat that had moved far too swiftly away, leaving only silence as the male's companion. With nothing to do, the varg lay down in a corner.
While his mother had sounded confident, he knew that within her heart she had lied. Everything was not going to be fine, and the damage he had done today was proof. If only the woman was as right as she had convinced herself to be. If only...
Thank you for reading and supporting! OCs are still being accepted. I hope I did an okay job at portraying them! Thank you! :)
P.S. I am working upon Dishonored(the parent story to this terrible, random spin off), and I am almost done with the next chapter. Hopefully that turns out okay. Thank you for your patience and understanding! You guys are awesome!