Chapter 23-The Rejection
Bulma's eyes fluttered open as her alarm went off. Groaning she reached over to silence the evil object. She rolled over in the large bed and realized that Vegeta wasn't there. Typical. She glared at the pillow with the slight indention as if it were somehow responsible. Then she sat up, groaning, and climbed out of bed. Suddenly remembering the task she had quietly taken her grandfather aside for last night, she quickly went to the door leading to the consort quarters, muffling her thoughts so that Vegeta wouldn't catch anything from her. Grabbing the knob and giving it a sharp tug she quietly entered 'Vegeta's room'. She found the box lying untouched on the bed, with the note carelessly tossed on the desk. He doesn't want me!
Bulma folded her arms against her stomach and began to rub her arms to try to ward off her sudden chill, trying to reassure herself that this wasn't a rejection from him. There could be any number of reasons that he didn't want to wear the ring yet. He… he might not feel ready yet. After all, being a husband wasn't the same as being a consort. He could not want to risk it getting caught on anything while he was training. He does work out in the gravity chamber, if it exploded again the ring might get caught on something and tear his finger off. Or he might not grasp the significance of the offer. He is an alien. Really, even if he had been raised in Terreille as Goku he might not have understood it.
The young queen slowly backed out of her consort's bedroom, reaching blindly behind her for the doorknob. She felt her fingers close around it she yanked the door open and left the room as quickly as she had entered it. When she did she noticed the table full of food that had been set for her. She also noticed the condition of the floor and realized what whichever servant had done this had discovered from the little mounds of blankets and clothes scattered around the room. Oh well, the servants probably needed something gossip about. Thankfully none of them would take it out of the Keep, and wondering when they're going to have another baby to play with will doubtlessly keep them occupied for a while. She giggled imagining the dignified servants gleefully whispering amongst themselves. Then her hand flew to her mouth. SHIT!
What?! Vegeta's mind was suddenly there, startled by her loud outburst.
Um, nothing ok? Go back to training or whatever you're doing. I need to think.
He gave a mental growl. And my presence is interfering with this?
No Vegeta it's just… can you give me some time to think about this one? She slowly felt him mentally back off and refocus on the robots occupying the air around him.
She tossed the blankets up on the bed before sitting down at the table, making sure to keep all of her thoughts carefully concealed, while allowing enough of her emotions loose that he wouldn't think she was trying to totally block him out. Which was curious considering how he behaved whenever she got too close to his personal thoughts.
Bulma realized she'd have to remember to start drinking the contraceptive brew. She couldn't risk getting pregnant when she didn't even know if Vegeta was going to be there for her when this was all over. Why did he hold back last night? She stabbed the breakfast steak and placed it on her plate. Adding plenty of scrambled eggs, toast, a pancake and some sausage to her now full plate. She poured herself a glass of orange juice and began to eat her breakfast as that question swirled painfully in her mind.
She glanced at the window. Almost time…
Bulma quickly finished eating and went to the bathroom to turn on the faucet and allow steaming water to fill the tub. She returned to the bedroom and from the back of the closet she carefully drew out the black spider silk gown. She gently laid it out on the bed, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles along the edges before going back to the bathroom to watch the water fill the ebony marble tub. As soon as the water was high enough she gracefully stuck her foot into the burning water, following that with her other foot. She slid down into the water. When she felt the surface line of water lapping gently against her neck she drew a deep breath and continued to sink until her head was completely submerged.
Mother night, why won't he let me in?! I've given him everything! Her hair floated around her face, taking on a life of its own as she held her breath. Complete access to anything he might need while he was staying with us. Food at regular intervals. Small bubbles fled to the surface of the water as air escaped from her nostrils. My mind. My heart. Her lungs were burning. My soul. Even my fucking virginity! She shot to the surface, gulping in a painful breath, shoving her hair back out of her face. Why can't you love me like I love you?! Why won't you accept my ring?!
Bulma rested her chin against the tub's rim. She felt Vegeta's questioning concern, and sent back a reassuring thought, withdrawing back into herself even farther so that her emotions wouldn't distract him while he trained. She didn't want him to get injured because of her. Bulma felt him withdraw once again, even more reluctantly. Maybe he does care about me… maybe not as much as I care for him, but he does care. Maybe he really does only need time. Pulling that thought comfortingly around herself, she reached for the shampoo bottle.
The Queen stood before the floor length mirror. Her skin was still slightly flushed from the bath but her blue hair flowed around her shoulders in a gleaming cascade. A sharp contrast to her pale shoulders and the gown she wore. The spider silk was a black, as black as midnight, and clung to her curves before falling in graceful folds to the floor. The material was gathered in the center of her chest by a black jewel surrounded by set in gold from which a network of chains inset with tiny jewel chips resembling a spider web spread across her breasts and up over her shoulders. The dress split beneath the jewel, revealing the expanse of her flat stomach all the way to below the small black jewel that rested against her navel.
Her dress was slit up the side to reveal a tantalizing expanse of white leg. Around which a gold chain spiraled down to the center of her heel strap. In the manner of the web at the top of her dress, the leg chain also carried tiny jewel chips, carefully positioned between the openings of the chain. Power swirled in the depths of the Ebony ring on her finger. The ring that tapped softly against the unicorn horn scepter she held in her hand whenever she shifted her grip on it.
The scepter had been a gift Jaenelle had given her from deep within the Abyss when she had the Birthright ceremony and received the jewels she was to wear just as her grandmother had. Along with the horn had come the story of the Warlord Prince Katien who had first gifted her with it. For remembrance, as a reminder. He had been killed when the tainted queens of Terreille had invaded the kindred lands and slaughtered thousands of the unicorns. And Jaenelle had passed the precious tribute to her friend on to her heir.
Bulma had replaced the shattered remains of her grandmother's Ebony jewels with her own. And now the scepter was once again a fitting tribute to the Warlord Prince who died defending his Queen, and the Queen who died defending her people. After the Purging there had been only Jaenelle, not the Queen of Ebon Askavi. The Dark Court existed no longer. But then neither did the Dark Counsel. Bulma's lips curved up in a tiny ironic smile. Not so different from Vegeta after all then am I? I'm the almost Queen of a court that no longer exists to his being the almost King of a world that no longer exists. But then my court can still exist if I chose to make it so. The smile slowly faded into a thoughtful expression. I wonder if…
"Master."
"No."
"Please, I would remedy my mist- oumph!" The creature sprawled on the floor. A thin trail of blood seeped from the corner of its mouth to disappear beneath the mist curling along the stone floor.
"Don't make me repeat myself." He gave a patient sigh, "Another master might give you a chance to bungle your mission yet again. I however will not keep sending the same being out to try to redeem them self for something they already screwed up once. You have already proven to me that you can't handle it. However… I will give you the chance to redeem yourself in another way. I have another job for you that I think will be even more to your liking." The gentle crooning voice caressed the prostrate figure. A violating caress that showed dominance even more sharply for its gentleness. The monster shivered as he looked upon his creator's deceptively kind smile, into the radiant flame of insanity lighting the frozen gold eyes from the inside.
Bum, Bum, Bum! Ok, next chapter is definitely the Offering one. Didn't get around to it like I had planned in this one. ~_~ Oh well. At any rate Dark Fools is still up. it's under Grimsister though since we're writing it together. Iceis updated Diamonds Over Water. Raksha still has Secret Past and her Dark Jewels fics that you might check out if you haven't already. Hm. I think that's all the announcements I have.
Sailor Purgatory: Thanks for the review. Babysitting*twitch* I've done that before. *shudder* I hope you survive to return to us...@_#
Roya: I'll try to write more but if I have to stay with my grandma I have to tell you, the only writing I'll get done will be during the day and that will effect the quality of my work. ~_~ *mutters*stupid people calling at 6:00 in the the morning. Sorry I'm rather a night person.
Empress Sarah-sama: O_O Wow, nice 'little nudge' there! He doesn't look very happy now though... lol! It's ok, I've been having a similar problem getting onto FF.net. Hm, so maybe it's not just my crappy ISP, but I think a vast majority of it is. Thanks for reviewing!
manga: Glad I could help you get your fix ^_^. But actually you were right, it did need a little more focus on them together, but I was working up to it. I also know what you mean about the taste thing. That's my biggest problem with lemons... As to him not putting on the ring, well it wasn't really about him, but it does rather fit his personality doesn't it ^_^. I was just really annoyed because I know what's going to happen later...
