The Reef's Treasure

Chapter 16

Queen's Chamber

Unsure exactly how much I had to drink last night, I do recall that the Queen made damn sure my glass was never empty or anywhere close to empty for that matter. But what I can remember is that after my second or was it fourth glass of wine, I was finding things a lot more agreeable. Although regardless of how good I was feeling then, I have no how I ended up where I was now.

I was having a hard time opening my eyes. My eyelids felt like anchors were pulling them shut. They felt heavy as hell and I had the worst case of cotton mouth ever. I started blinking heavily to regain full consciousness from yet another unknown unconscious state for I don't know how long. My first realization as I was coming to was that I was at least sitting up in a chair; so that was a nice change.

A scratch on my nose that sent my hand to the rescue made me realized that my hands and feet weren't bound either; more good news. Thinking that I wasn't dead and not bound made me ponder that perhaps my outburst had positively influenced the mighty ruler after all.

Seeing that I was still in my cat suit, I looked over at the wound on my shoulder and was surprised yet again.

My arm was now neatly bandaged and I barely felt any pain at all. I took a few seconds to look myself over and was stunned when I counted how many close encounters my new suit of armor had protected me from. An outsider would never have guessed the lightweight material would be so tough. I slowly drug my fingers over hip and tried to ignore the multiple scuff marks left behind. All this time I couldn't wait to get out of this Awoken armor yet it was really one of the only things protecting me.

Slowly rising to my feet, I noticed that my cheek had also received treatment. There was some sort of clear dressing on it. It felt more like applied glue then a bandage, but after I played with it a little, it seemed to be doing the trick so I left it alone.

Stretching, as I began more alert, I discovered that my head wasn't pounding like I thought it should be after all the wine I drank last night. Scanning my surroundings I recognized that I was in the same room I was in earlier with the Queen, however this time it seemed to be empty. I took a few steps and tried to see if anyone else was there. Even darker than before, made it hard to see more than five or six feet in front of me.

Perhaps more meager than I hoped, I called out into the near darkness.

"Hello?"

There was no reply but by now that was no shocker. I waited in the blackness for a few seconds before I suddenly felt the tiny hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up. Every thing about me sensed someone moving in the room. Very slowly someone began to emerge several feet in front of me. Sort of hoping I wasn't wrong about who it was, I called out once more.

"Your majesty?"

In the darkness there was still no answer but I could tell that a woman was moving cautiously closer to me. Coming into view, I recognized the platinum blonde hair of the Queen of the Reef. When she was only a few feet in front of me I saw that she was wearing her typical suit of Queen Armor. She was holding a large glass of wine although clearly half empty because of the numerous lip impressions on the glass's edge.

Feeling that she might be a little tipsy, I figured it didn't really matter what came out of my mouth at that moment, so I joked, "I'm beginning to feel a little under dressed."

For the first time, a smile, although evil in nature, tugged at the corner of the Queen's mouth. Chewing on her bottom lip, she seductively moved closer. I felt like I was prey she was about to pounce on. Stunned I watched as she slinked her way even closer; nearly pressing her body against mine. Without hesitation, the blue beauty slipped one of her nimble fingers beneath the hem of my shoulder pad. Unbeknownst to me, that broke the seal that seemed to be keeping my cat suit in place upon my chest. However now with that unseen seal broken, the Ruler of the Reef easily removed the garment off my shoulder with one fluid movement.

I had no idea what was happening but I was curious to see where this was going. I watched her as intently as she studied me. Seemingly in some trance it felt like she didn't even acknowledge that I was in the same room as her. She didn't look me in the face, offer me a drink or even speak. But I do know the blue beauty was taken that I had not flinched or attempted to cover myself when she tantalizingly removed the remainder of my uniform. But then again I was too young of a guardian to be self conscious. After standing there for a bit I felt a sudden draft that made me quiver.

"It is cold".

Hovering dangerously close to her body, I whispered, "Do you have to call me it?"

Arousingly, the pale skinned woman answered, "Sometimes it is hard to tell your human females from males under your armor."

Glancing down at my bare breasts she was eyeing, I replied, "Are you having a problem identifying me now?"

Her eyes immediately shot upwards; not amused by my attempt of humor. I could have of sworn I heard a deep throated growl before she spun around and walked away. Feeling I had just blown a good thing I sighed and went after her.

"Look, I'm sorry about that. I haven't had much experience with Queens." Watching the woman with her back to me pour another glass of wine I mused, "In fact, I'm not even sure what to call you." She slowly lifted her glass and took a long hearty gulp. "Should I address you as Queen or your majesty?"

As abruptly as she left, she turned around and faced me. Her free hand tightly around my throat, "I prefer you not speak at all."

Feeling her fingers tighten around my windpipe, I panicked and my survival instincts took over. In one fluid movement, I knocked her hand away, twisted it up behind her back then pushed her down on to the bed. It took a few seconds of hearing her gasp for air that I suddenly realized that life as I knew it had just come to an abrupt end. She was in fact going to kill me.

Shifting some of my weight off her, I sat back but kept her in a submissive position; face down on the bed.

Sending a chill that ran up and down my spine, twice, the Queen of the Reef chuckled, "Now this is more like it."