The entire camp is understandably shaken after Lotus's arrival, for multiple reasons, though the one that bothers me is, 'Why would father contract my death?' Is he displeased with my performance? To the point where he doesn't even bother bringing me to the castle? Yet, why Lotus? How did she get an audience with him?
My head hurts from all of this, "I won't let her kill you, my little dragon." Phoenix was strangely silent throughout that whole encounter, I can only assume she was sizing Lotus up. I sit down 'near' the campfire, but I took several steps back, while I truly am thankful for Bethy, it doesn't change the fact I am terrified of her.
"Again, I apologize," I hear Hadronix state, "I know it's not enough, but… you also have to understand that due to my position, I rarely work with people, it's usually just my pets and me. So I fail to fit in on a social level." She pauses, "It's why I react with either being blunt or sarcasm, I've lived alone for so long." Her voice cracks.
Xander sighs, "As long as you have the best intentions, I'm willing to tolerate it. I dare not to think what would have happened if you weren't here to stop Lotus."
"Speaking of, how did she do all of that?" Camilla brings up, "She had to have been in front of us to hit me with that… bullet, was it? And throw a dagger at Xander, but she held Raven at knife-point in the seemingly the same second."
"If you are looking for an explanation on how everything works, I'm afraid I don't have the answers," The hunter starts, "I can't even explain how my bond with pets work, it's just…"
"Instinct?" I answer, "It just is?" I turn around and face them.
Hadronix nods, "That would be the best way to put it, because trying to put it into words is near impossible."
"There it is again… it just is." Xander shakes his head, "Nevermind."
I turn my attention to Sakura and Raven, who are near each other, deep in discussion, "I'm sorry, Sis and I should have been more careful." The monk's stutter is gone, "We've…"
"It's alright, Raven," Her stammering also is absent, "I still trust you two… and I enjoy talking with you."
"A technique that even a Master Ninja can't compare to…" I overhear Phoenix comment, she is standing with Selena, "If she wasn't so hostile, I would want to ask more."
"Her sword stood out more for me." Selena replies.
The Tactician nods, "It holds heavy enchantments, I am assuming it has some sort of healing factor, considering she survived Bethy's venom."
I lean back and sigh, 'Too much is happening at once,' I put my head in my hands and will the headache away, 'And I am thinking too much on it all.'
"Heya, sis." Elise sits down beside me, "How are you?"
"Well enough, what about you? What happened?" I look her over, there doesn't seem to be any wounds on her.
She shakes her head, "Hadronix tried explaining it, but… she lost me after a sentence. It's hard to wrap my head around what they can do."
I nod, "It seems impossible," I look around, "We're a few days from Leo." I comment, but all that follows is silence. The campfire crackles as I just stare at it. 'Things have gotten so bad…' I have almost the same amount of people since Notre Sagre, we've just lost so many. And for those who haven't died, they are constantly getting seriously injured, or in Camilla's case, losing their mounts. I put my head in my hands again and sigh. "I… just." My hands feel wet, "Why can't things go smoothly for once? Something is always happening!" I cry out. "There's always a death, always arguments, secrets, lies…"
Elise wraps her arms around me but I barely even register it, "We'll push through, we always have." She tries to comfort me.
"At what cost?" I retort, "What will I lose next?"
"We won't." Xander's voice echoes through the camp.
I grit my sharpened teeth, "Don't tell anyone, I especially don't need Lotus being tipped off." 'Breathe… rip, rend.' I remove my head from my hands, "All you lost was two retainers, brother," I spit out, "I lost both of my Maids, my blood-sister, I have a blood-brother that hates me, another who thinks things will still work out, a blood-sister who just wants the fighting to stop," My voice grows increasingly louder as I feel my draconic form seep through, "I lost the sword you crafted for me, I lost the book of memories Leo made for me, and gods… Leo is still out there somewhere, might as well say I lost him, too!" I throw my hands in the air, "So, how can you tell me that I won't lose anything else?!" 'Kill, kill, rip, rend, death!'
By the time I finished, the entire camp had their eyes on me, but all I was focused on is Xander. "You're right, I can't guarantee anyone's safety, that is a task beyond any one person, but I will do what I can to make sure we all stand by the end of this."
"Even if it goes against the Crown? What if that contract turns out to be legitimate? That Garon really did order my death?" I counter. 'Ravage, blood.'
"Lotus had to have had that forged, father wouldn't ever do that." He calmly replies.
"I was already on Death's door around him what, three times? But by some miracle he keeps giving me more chances." I scoff, 'Kill, maim.' "He smells dead." The haze grows, "Besides, I can smell intentions, or have you thrown that logic out along with my dragon side?"
"Sister…?" Elise asks.
"No," I shake my head, "Not now, I'm not going to keep being pushed around! I don't care who it is! Well? What will you do if the contract is real, brother ?" He hesitates. "Dead, there's your answer, we both die. King Garon doesn't deal with treason, remember?" 'Die, feast.'
"Feed her, my little dragon. Don't be afraid to hold back." I can hear other people, but to me, the only ones here are Xander, and Phoenix's voice. "A cut or two would put him in his place…"
"Stand down." I hadn't realized I formed my lance, but… 'Blood, blood! Rip, rend, kill!'
"No, not anymore." I repeat, "I refuse." He draws Siegfried and I can feel the power emanating from it, somehow it feels different when it is directed towards me. 'Revenge, maim.'
"If you don't stand down…"
"You'll what? Garon already wants me dead! Why not just fulfill your damn duty to the Crown?" I snarl. 'Die, rip, blood, ravage.'
"He doesn't seem deterred, my little dragon. You might want to fix that." I nod as I feel that buzz of power enter me, the same one that surged through me moments before I murdered Oboro. Once again, I barely catch a glimpse of that purple glow on the back of my right hand. More yells and protests, but I can sense they are backing up. "There you go, all the room you need." I smirk.
Xander assumes his stance, without his mount that is, but I know he is just as deadly off of his prized horse as he is on it. "Yasei, sister… I don't want to do this, but I will subdue you if it comes to it… we don't know if that contract is real."
"You can smell intentions, and I can also assure you that nothing but the truth left Lotus's mouth on that topic." I shake my head, "It is real. As real as the blood I am about to drain out of you."
Something finally snapped in him, and his face takes on that cold, calculating stare whenever he fights, the stare he reserves for his enemies. 'Rend, rip, tear, feast, blood!' I think I can make out Azura's voice, "No! Ignore her! Focus!" I shake my head and give Xander my full attention, there will be no calm this time, not now. Not this time, I refuse to be pushed around.
After several tense moments, I charge, lance at the ready, Xander calmly side-steps me before landing a pommel strike on my head, but I manage to form my armor before then. I immediately twist around and barely manage to pierce his armor with my lance. 'Gods, that stuff is tough.'
"Call for a boost?" I can practically see Phoenix's smile. "Get him, my little dragon." He does a backwards slice and it barely grazes my armor, that seems to have caught him off-guard and I use my lance once more, making a clean puncture this time. I jump back before his sword strikes me, it is now radiating an intense red glow with a midnight black shroud around it. "Ah, looks like he decided to get serious." He slashes once more, and I back out of his reach, but I didn't account for a small shockwave that followed, it rips into my armor with ease. 'Gods… How is he that strong?' I charge in for another strike and Xander prepares another slice…
But we both hit some sort of invisible wall. "...ighting, please!" The rage slowly leaves me. 'No, it isn't invisible,' I can see a transparent light-green and light-blue mist between us, 'Raven?'
"Are you two about done?" Hadronix's voice rings out. 'It comes out so clear.' I can sense an underlying, but high amount of frustration from her… and a small whirring. 'The tell-tale sign of one of her gadgets.'
"Love!" Elise's voice is the next I hear, tears are streaming down her face. "Please, come back…"
"I…" My draconic features recede, "I…" I repeat, 'What did I…? Why did?... Phoenix!' Yet, I cannot find the will to get angry at her, whatever is in the air is keeping me from feeling… anything negative really. I glance at the Monk, she is sitting on the ground cross-legged, her face in deep concentration. I finally look around.
If a person isn't crying, they're looking at me with dissent, 'Freak, murderer.' I shrink back as my eyes go from person to person. "I…" Tears form, "didn't mean…"
"Darling, are you thinking straight again?" It's Camilla. I slowly nod.
"Lotus must have hit her with a toxin." Hadronix smoothly lies, "It's my fault, I should have checked everyone over after she left."
"We were all caught up in a heated moment," Phoenix adds, "Then the stress of Lotus came by and it simply was too much, we forgot some of the basics." 'Gods, with Hadronix's gadgets, Phoenix's magic, and both of their disturbingly incredible talent with lying, I'm sure those two can sway anyone.'
I noticed Xander has sheathed his sword, I glance up at him, "I didn't mean that… I don't know what came over me, big… no. I would understand if you don't consider me family after that…" I look away.
But, to my surprise, I felt his hand… ungloved, guide my face back to his. That cold look is gone and it's back to the 'Stern big brother' look, "You are family, Yasei. Nothing can change that. Every other person in this entire world could brand you a traitor, a deserter… anything they want, but know that we will have your back."
"Even…?" I don't need to continue to reference who I am talking about.
He pauses, "In the unlikelihood that, yes the contract is in fact real, I will find a way to protect you. I would discard honor and bury us in lies if that what it takes. Then I will find a way to get your name off that list." I smile and wrap my arms around him as another set of tears form.
"Thank you, big brother." I whisper. I probably spent only a few minutes in the most emotional embrace Xander has ever offered, but for me, it felt like it lasted years. 'The side of big brother that is forced to hide while he is 'Crown Prince' instead of 'Big Brother'.'
"I'm going to go back to my tent, now…" I say as I break the embrace, 'well, it's Hadronix's tent, but whatever.' Then I draw myself a bath and remove my armor, the water is steaming hot, just the way my body likes it. I hiss when my feet first touch it, but gods does it feel good, I slowly lower myself in… I don't think I could ever camp without this tent again… "Mmm…" I sigh in contentment as I start relaxing.
"Yasei?" I hear Elise ask, 'Gods, the skin I have left is already pruning?' "Are you planning on sleeping in that bathtub?"
"Only three spots can even prune, and my face isn't in the water. Plus one for scales." I giggle.
"Then you are going to leave me to sleep without my personal heater?" She crosses her arms and mock-pouts.
"Mmm…" I tap my chin, "How about… you join me for a bit, and then I'll take you to bed?"
She smiles, "Oh, alright. Just give me a moment." She starts undressing and walks over to me, I scrape my lower lip, 'Teeth are sharp, don't forget that,' I taste blood. "Now th- Aah!" she shrieks as I pull her into the tub. "You… are crazy!" She laughs.
"Crazy for you, you mean." She flushes… or maybe it's from the hot water.
"Your lip is bleeding again…" She tilts her head.
"I… keep forgetting my teeth are always sharpened." I frown. "Do you think… I am going to change any further?"
"And if you do?" She gets closer and her body is touching mine.
"Then I change… I guess, nothing else to it."
She giggles, "That's right."
The air becomes slightly more heated and I jump up in reflex, and look around, "Godsdamnit, Hadronix." I sigh when I am sure there is no demons lurking around.
"What?" She asks.
"She just had to spill that fact about Bethy, didn't she? Now, I am going to be looking around me every time I get going."
She hums, "Adorableloverssaywhat?" She quickly speaks.
"Wha…" she pulls me into a kiss and I melt into it. Her tongue explores my mouth, while being mindful of my teeth. Then she breaks it, 'More.' "Are you trying to...?"
"Elise says be quiet." My mouth snaps shut and my heart skips a beat, 'Oh, she is going to do that again.' "Love, up." She is smiling the whole time… she is pulling that invisible string and by the gods does it excite me. 'Well, with my mate dead , I don't have anyone else to tend to my dragon side, so now she is pulling double-duty… gods… Keaton,' "Follow…" She breaks me from my thoughts and I get out and dry myself off. She swings her hips as she guides me to the bed. "Lie down." I eagerly comply and am on my back.
She climbs on top of me, her small frame barely affecting me at all, and her tongue starts tracing my chin and goes down… somehow she can touch my scales in a way that just causes pleasure to surge through me. 'More.' "Nuh-uh." She stops my arms from moving, "Hands to yourself." Another wave of warmth as I pin my arms to my side and let her work. She is making it really difficult to stay still. She keeps dropping until her mouth is mere inches away from my core… before going right back up, I moan a protest but she shushes me and resumes moving back up to my breasts and placing her mouth over one of my nipples, while one of her hands gropes the other. I shudder in pleasure, her other hand attempts and fails to keep my body from moving.
She groans, but keeps tending to my breasts, her mouth and hand switches position, then her other hand drops lower and… "Gods…" I couldn't stop myself as she merely brushed pass my entrance.
She hums in approval, another wave of pleasure passes, then her mouth pops off the nipple, "Did you need something?" Her voice is needy and the scent of our arousals is too much. "Speak."
"You… I need you."
She giggles, her face flushed as the hand down low brushes by my core again, "I am here."
"Gods, Elise… I need you inside me. Haah…" She is now stroking the lower area.
She hums in thought before nodding, "I think I can do that." The rest of her body drops lower, sliding across my scales with ease. She breathes on my core and I jolt forwards, "I know your weak spots." She sings while two fingers dance just outside the entrance. I whimper and she slowly starts to push them in.
"Haah… Elise… make me yours, please…" She thrusts the rest of her two fingers in and I let out a loud moan, her thumb on the same hand goes up to my clitoris and she starts thrusting her fingers while rubbing my clit. The first orgasm came within a half a minute of Elise's practiced movements, yet it does not cause her to slow down, she keeps the pace and I just can't offer any resistance. Her mouth approaches it as well, and she breathes on me a few times before her tongue reaches out and, "Elise… Gods!" This woman is too much! She does a breathy giggle and starts swinging her legs in the air.
She picks up the speed… I feel a third one coming and… nothing, she completely stops. "Wh…"
"Sh…" She is looking at me with lustful eyes and a devious smile, "Hm…" 'By the gods, woman, continue!' She waits a precious few moments and the feeling of warmth recedes, right when I am about to lose my patience, she resumes, this time swiftly bringing me over the edge.
"You are… evil for that…" I take a few breaths. Her fingers slip out and I let out a weak gasp.
"I had you squirming…" She has a proud smile on her face. "Goodnight, sis."
"Goodnight, love." She giggles and kisses me, then rests her head on my chest and falls asleep.
"Good news, my little dragon, I got a treat for you tomorrow…"