A Brighter Future Ahead
AN: A new chapter for Phat Tuesday just like I promised! How long has it been since I actually came through with one of those, huh? Anyways...
WARNING: Language and slight torture in this chapter. I think this chapter should be rated M for those reasons.
Disclaimer: I do not own Wings of Fire.
Clearsight:
When Darkstalker had left to chase after Copperhead, the rest of them had been escorted back to their hut by two stoic Rainwing guards. Nobody spoke during the entire trip and when the group made it back, Fathom, Clearsight, and Indigo went inside while their two guards remained outside.
Almost a half-hour of awkward shuffling had passed before Fathom broke the silence, "Do—Do you think he'd actually…do it? Kill her I mean." He spoke quietly as to not arouse the guards' suspicions. He looked at Clearsight when he posed the question, and she looked down in response.
She looked down because she was ashamed of herself. She should have immediately said 'no' but couldn't. For, in truth, she didn't know. "He was trying to change, but…" She shook her head, "I don't know."
Indigo scoffed, "Seriously? This is Darkstalker we're talking about! Of course he will, it's who he is!"
"Flattering as ever, Indigo," a new, familiar voice sounded from the doorway. Clearsight jumped up and rushed over to him. Darkstalker wrapped her in a warm hug to which she gladly returned before he whispered solemnly, "I couldn't do it."
Clearsight sighed in relief at his proclamation. I had hoped you would say that. His hold on her tightened upon hearing that thought. Their moment was interrupted by an angry Seawing, though. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!? YOU HAD ONE JOB! Great time to go soft when ALL OF OUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE!"
"Indigo," Fathom tried to intervene. He placed a comforting talon on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off and stalked forward.
"No, Fathom! I've had enough! I tried to give him a chance because you trusted Clearsight enough to trust him, but no more! He has brought nothing but misery, pain, and death to everyone that comes near him, and I won't be just another body to add to his already staggering pile!" She glared at him and he glared back.
"I'm beginning to wonder who the real monster here is," he growled. Indigo narrowed her eyes even farther—if that was even possible. "I'm not going to kill an innocent dragon…despite how much I want to."
"So you'd rather us be killed?" She shifted her attention to Clearsight. "I told you that you should stay away from him. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. I doubt he even—"
She was cut off when Darkstalker released a furious roar and she was sent flying backwards through the wooden wall of their hut and down to the forest floor where she impacted with a loud thud. Clearsight and Fathom watched in silent terror as Darkstalker stalked forward with a murderous aura. When he leapt out of the hole, Clearsight moved forward to better see what was happening.
Vines and roots had come to life and had wrapped themselves around Indigo's legs, tail, and neck. She was splayed out like a starfish—completely helpless. Even from this distance, Clearsight could see her fear as clearly as she could see the utter hatred in Darkstalker's expression.
She glided down to the forest floor just as the Nightwing had reached his helpless prey. She vaguely saw other Rainwings looking on the scene with varying degrees of either interest or fear.
She quickly closed the distance and could see that Darkstalker was shaking with the effort it took to control his probable desire to just end the Seawing's life. "Darkstalker…" she whispered in horror. He didn't even acknowledge her.
She watched as he placed a single talon near her gills, and her eyes immediately widened in sheer terror. "Did you know that a Seawings' gills are the most sensitive area on their body?" he asked. She nodded as the color flushed from her scales. "I've heard that they can be a source of great pleasure during intimacy…just as they can be a source of unimaginable pain."
Fathom joined her at her side at that moment and together they heard Indigo's whimper as the Nightwing increased the pressure on her gills. Indigo's gaze flicked over to Fathom, but the Prince didn't move. He didn't want to do anything that could set Darkstalker off and put Indigo through any more pain than necessary. They had no choice but to wait…and hope he didn't kill her.
"Never call my love and commitment to Clearsight fake again, or next time we'll see how loud I can make you scream!" He released her with a growl and started walking in the direction of the Queen's Pavilion. The Rainwings in his way promptly disappeared from sight and got out of his way as quickly as possible.
The vines holding her down released her as well and Fathom rushed forward and wrapped her in an embrace. Clearsight watched as Indigo broke into heavy sobs. The proud, tough dragoness had been closer to death than anyone would like to admit, and Darkstalker knew how to make dragons fear him.
The fact that he hadn't killed Indigo was testament to how hard he was trying to change. A month ago, he wouldn't have hesitated.
Clearsight walked closer to Fathom as he comforted the other Seawing. "He never said anything," Fathom whispered to the Nightwing. "How is that possible? All animus dragons have to say their spells verbally."
Clearsight shook her head, "I don't know…but he's never exactly been ordinary, has he? Maybe his powers are stronger than we thought…" She trailed off as Indigo began calming down and her fear was replaced by righteous anger.
"Does it matter!? HE'S A FUCKING PSYCOPATH!" She yelled at the top of her lungs in the direction the Nightwing had gone.
"Haven't you pushed him far enough?" Fathom admonished her. "You should count yourself lucky that he didn't push down any harder on your gills than he did." He brushed a gentle talon against the irritated and swollen tissue, and she shuddered. "Don't instigate him, Indigo…just give him some distance for a while."
She tucked her head underneath his jaw, "Why do you trust him?"
He was silent for a long time, so long in fact that Indigo pulled back and looked at him curiously. Clearsight had to admit she was curious, too. She wasn't aware of any reason why Fathom should trust Darkstalker other than because she trusted Darkstalker, and Fathom trusted her.
"Because he said that he approved of our relationship…despite how much he doesn't like you. He was trying—giving you a chance. I trust him because I know who he can be rather than what." Clearsight smiled at that. It was exactly why she trusted Darkstalker.
AN: I know this chapter seems pointless, but it isn't. Trust me. This chapter is actually quite important in the scheme of things. Why is that, you ask? You'll just have to wait and see...
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22
