Chapter 25

The weeks had passed. And it was time to speak with her Uncle. Lady Tiamat had warned the others that she may not return for a while, and when she does, be ready. No one quite knew how to take her warning, yet the curse wombs all nodded to her, and would prepare everything for her on a whim. "Be safe Lady Tiamat." Choso said with great sincerity, but then looked to her belly. "Everyone, be safe."

She nodded to him as she left…

The heavenly realm.

Well, it all depends on one's perspective. Yes, it did look heavenly. There were castles, villages and all sorts of creatures of myth and legends that dwell here, yet it's mainly ruled and used by the dragon. Tiamat had just arrived before the grand castle of her uncle. The moment she steps through these doors, she is silenced. With a sigh, and a gentle rub of her belly, she opened the gate and walked in…

#

"Hmmm…"

"Something wrong?" asked Yuuji innocently. He had gone rather silent for some time, as if he were peering in on something.

Kur however nodded. "You're in danger now," he said in a matter of fact tone. "Tiamat was just summoned for a dragon meeting by my brother, as such, he is doing this to check up on her. When he sees her belly… he will know she is pregnant"

"So what?" demanded Suiryu. "What's he going to do about it?"

Kur looked him dead in the eyes and said. "It's not beyond him to rip an unborn out of a mother's womb"

They went silent. Yuuji gulped his pride as Suiryu started to look worried as well. "What… what can we do?" asked Yuuji. "There has to be something we can do!"

Kur shook his head. "You can't even use astral projection in the castle walls. You two won't be able to do much if something happens…"

Suiryu began to clench his hands in rage, so did Yuuji. The two were pissed to say the least, at the same time, they were worried for their new mother. Yet, as the rage coursed through them, Yuuji paused as he felt an odd warming sensation grow in his stomach. His lower left hand went over his core. "What… what is this feeling? Suiryu, do you…"

His right hand was over his belly. "Yeah… it's like curse energy… but we're also pissed off right now so it has to be curse energy." Suiryu said, but then he paused. "Then again, it doesn't feel the same…" He suddenly realized something, he began to sense mom's state of mind. He felt her fear, worry and terror… the basic fuel for curse energy, but now, he was channeling it into himself. "Yuuji…" he said in a stern tone. "Mom is expelling curse energy rapidly…"

"I feel it too… I'm… absorbing it…" he said with concern.

"Your power is waking," Kur said and smiled. "Excellent, this may work out for us…"

"Wait, how?" demanded Suiryu. "You just said we were helpless to do anything!"

He turned to Yuuji, who suddenly appeared spaced out. "Bro?" he asked gently.

"He's falling to the state of his core wakening… what happens next will depend on him…"

Suiryu was concerned, until he felt his core resonate. His heartbeat began to quicken, his body went stiff as he found himself unable to move. But, he was starting to hear voices… and they were shouting his mother's name…

#

She waited for her moment to be called. Being a powerful dragon, it's customary. However, the others don't quite know how strong she really is. Tiamat had always kept her power under wraps so males wouldn't seek her out for the sake of it. She has also hid her daughters and children of her siblings who have long since passed.

Thanks to their uncle.

Tiamat was evaluating the earth when a war went on in the heavenly realm. Her uncle had spread rumors, fake stories and promises to her siblings. Some had lusted for power and listened to every word he spoke. Others did not, those who failed to fall for his sweet talk were the first killed. Those who continued to believe him, began to fight among themselves with the promise of more power. She didn't understand why her siblings were so greedy, and yet, they all fell in the end.

She knows he has done other, terrible things for the sake of maintaining control. Yet with this hex on her, she cannot utter them aloud to any one. The dragons of the heavenly realm wouldn't believe her anyways. They always considered her weak, since she kept silent. Her uncle always made a spectacle of it.

"ANNOUNCING, LADY TIAMAT!"

Her name was called. The doors parted as she entered the room full of other dragons. Yet, they all fell silent at the sight of her. She kept her head held high as she walked to her designated seat, next to her uncle. He always wanted to keep a close eye on her. When their eyes met, he froze. He appeared disgusted at first as she took her seat.

The murmurs began.

"Who is it?" her Uncle demanded.

Tiamat merely glared at him. She wasn't able to speak anyways.

"She's pregnant after so long? Impossible! She vowed to never breed again after the death of Ryu!" one protested.

She kept staring into the many faces of the room, these dragons are under her uncle's claw. They have tried desperately for thousands of years to be her mate, and she has refused every one of them. Their greedy ways are not to be praised or acknowledged. She wants ALL her children to survive, not just the females. But even they are in danger too. Her daughters are hidden for this very reason. The males here see a powerful mate and know powerful offspring will come from said mate… powerful children means more for them to consume.

"Lady Tiamat, this is unacceptable!" her uncle scolded. "First, you favor a demon sorcerer, then allow him to attempt to obtain our power… but at least you remedied this error. We are fully aware of that…"

She sat there and endured the shouting. One male stepped forward. "Father this isn't right!" he protested.

His one son, the absolute favorite out of all his broods, the one that looks, acts and speaks like him the most, nearly a carbon copy. The only son he allowed to live voiced his concern and opinion on the matter. He's able to; he's the biggest dragon in the room and commands the floor.

He smiled wickedly to his offspring. "Then what do you suggest?"

His son bore a wicked grin. "Take them out of her!"

She snarled back at him, her hands came over her belly as she wanted to thrash him badly! Yet, unable to transform, her power is limited in the castle.

Her uncle on the other hand paused. "She should explain herself…" he said in a teasing tone, knowing fully well she can't. "Well Tiamat, what do you have to say?"

She glared at him, as terrifying as she could. But still, her silence was good enough for those in the room.

Then, the boys began to act up. Her stomach agitated, they were pushing her every which way as if they were getting ready to fight! "I've heard enough father, it's obvious her silence is her answer, she doesn't respect us enough to give a decent excuse for her ways!" her cousin shouted.

Those who rallied with him roared in agreement. "Then what do we do son?"

He smiled wickedly. "I say we let the males who have been so patient to await her favor… to deal with her themselves…"

There were over 300 dragons in the room, she knew a hundred of them has sought to mate with her… they are going to use that as bait. "I say if she won't tell us who the male is that these little ones belong to, then I say take them out. And start over"

'You sick son of a bitch!' she thought.

Her uncle laughed aloud and agreed to it of course. "Great and mighty dragons, let's let the others handle this from this moment in. My son, you are as cunning as me!"

'He's as big of an ass as you too' Tiamat thought.

But this was concerning, she could handle a few on her own in this state, but a hundred… not possible. She can't let anything happen to Yuuji or Suiryu, they are her sons now. She vowed to protect them when she became their mother. Her uncle, his son and the others cleared out of the room. There is no one to interfere or come to her aid if there were some who dared to. Yet the hundred males who had sought her favor remained and began to bear their fangs. But as soon as the gates closed and she was left with her disappointed suitors, she stood up from her chair and prepared for war!