This chapter is for the wonderful PyroCatz, who bestowed an amazing review on me and I neglected to give them a chapter. So, here you go! Enjoy, and I apologize that it took so long. Life is crazy and the muse is fleeting.
Chapter 12
No turning back
Naerea stopped at the edge of the tangled, pestilent growths that comprised the Wandering Contagion. Once she passed into there, she wouldn't be able to get free. She would be in the territory of Lady Plaguebringer, under her control. "Come," Sitaris growled, yanking on the Mirror's chain. Nae reluctantly followed, intently aware of her every step.
The Red Deity stood at the entrance to her domain, her pestilent eyes glaring at the steam that rose of the diseased lake. A stone and emerald Guardian male stopped behind her. "Lady Plaguebringer." The Deity turned, her tail swishing across the chiseled red floor. "What?" Her voice cracked like a whip: she was angry. "Sitaris and the Mirror have entered the Abiding Boneyard. They are within your domain." A terrible smile spread across the vindictive dragon's face. "Excellent…" She hissed. Plaguebringer hurried through the corridors of her virus-ridden palace, her long claws click-clacking on the stone. She stopped before a door, opening it quickly. Inside was an empty room: its only defining feature was that of an ornate mosaic of a strange symbol comprised of jagged edges and smooth lines. She stood off to the side of it, closing her eyes and snarling in a foreign, immeasurably ancient tongue. "Si relgr shafaer wer vers di plague. Si relgr shafaer wer vers di marfedelom, di waruira. Dronilnr ve wer Mirror Naerea. Dronilnr ve wer Spiral Sitaris. Dronilnr astahi ekess ve!" Red light filled the room, swirling like ominous fog. When it cleared, a feral grin split Lady Plaguebringer's face. "Hello, Naerea."
Ragki stood at the opening of Selenay's lair, the Wildclaw behind him. "Go. And don't get caught," Selenay said quietly. Almost against her will, she had come to care a little for this Mirror who was fleeing the ruler of the Wasteland. "Thank you for letting me shelter in your lair, Selenay, daughter-of-Erebus. May misfortune avoid you and luck keep you safe." Ragki's purple eyes were smiling a little with morbid humor as he started to run across the ragged and torn rocks. Suddenly, he stopped as a massive roar of thunder split the silence. He turned to look at the surface of the Wyrmwound, and his eyes went wide. A massive whirl of red was churning the surface of the pestilent, bubbling lake, diseased green lightning crackling through it. "Naerea…." He breathed, starting to run towards the palace of Lady Plaguebringer and his daughter. Selenay watched him, fighting with herself. Finally, she darted after him. "What ever your name is, I'm going to help you. Anyone who is an enemy of Lady Plaguebringer is a friend of mine." Ragki gave her a toothy grin of thanks and together, the dragons raced towards their fate.