Chapter 13
Death and all her friends
Naerea's dark-scaled face drained of blood until it was a chalky grey-white. Her arch-enemy, the deity who had been hunting her and marked her for death because of petty revenge, was standing before her with a wretched grin. "Here's is the Mirror, Naerea, daughter-of-Ragki," Sitaris said. He shoved Nae forwards, the chains clinking. "Take her to the Center," Lady Plaguebringer laughed gleefully. "The party's about to begin. We're just waiting on one more guest…"
Ragki and Selenay peeked out from behind a rough stone pillar, watching the Exalted guards. Ragki was about to dart out, when a pair of water tentacles wrapped around the guards and froze them. He looked at Selenay. "I'm guessing that was you?" The Wildclaw's face was horrified. "No. That was not," She breathed. "Of course it wasn't, Selenay," A voice hissed in the burbling tones of a Coatl. Ieyu, in all her blue-feathered glory, stepped out to face them. "I wouldn't have expected you to be here, wingsister," Ieyu continued. "I thought I had killed you a long time ago, and certainly didn't expect you to be in the company of a murderer and traitor. Isn't that right, Ragki, mate of Oriana and father of Naerea and Gareki?" Ragki bared his teeth, anger making him rash. "How do you know about Gareki?" He snarled. "I know more than enough about him and your family. I made it my business to hunt down your family and kill them. I slew Gareki on a beach before your daughter. I slew Kage, Iaphera, Bright, and Nightclaw. I only missed killing your wife: a patrol of Water dragons did that for me. You shouldn't have betrayed your mistress, traitor. You killed my parents by that action. Lady Plaguebringer was furious, and her old anger at my parents for 'wronging her' was stoked into rage. You killed them!" A storm was raging around Ieyu as her eyes glowed brilliant blue. "YOU KILLED THEM!" She shrieked. Selenay's eyes sparked blue and the two dragons stepped forwards to battle. Ragki ducked behind a pillar as razor-sharp shards of ice flew past and eviscerated any guard that came near them.
Naerea was dragged through the corridors of the palace, Sitaris hurrying with a single-minded intensity. They stopped before a perfectly circular chamber, the Spiral assassin pulling open an ornate door. Inside, there was a stone slab, an alter that was etched with sharp, jagged runes. Nae was chained to the wall and left alone, to await her fate.
"Ieyu!" A high, burbling voice screamed. The blue Coatl stopped, the water around her falling to the ground. "Kyras…." She breathed. Selenay saw an opportunity, taking it. She pinned her former wingsister to the ground. Kyras's orange eyes were sorrowful. "I'm sorry, Ieyu. But I couldn't let you kill anyone else." Ieyu's eyes faded to green again, looking defeated. She slumped to the ground, looking less like an emotionless monster and more like a dragon for the first time. "Go, Ragki. Save Naerea," Selenay said to the Mirror. Ragki nodded, he and Kyras racing into the palace.
Enjoy this latest chapter! There's one chapter and an epilogue left. And ShardofSun... please don't make any comments about Ieyu, Kyras, or any other little spoilers.