Intermisson: Blink

Heat smouldered amongst the ashes, coals like the eyes of the Grim burned white-hot in the hole, making its walls of steel shine like the sun.

There was no malice in this place, no fear, no pain, just the symphony of heat that no mere man could ever hope to appreciate. Heat made such a beautiful sound as it embraced her, many a day she would lock herself with boulder-like coals and slumber amidst her wealth, embracing the flame as was her shared nature.

But as she lay in peace, thoughtless and ethereal, she felt it.

Faster than a bolt, faster than You'd think, dashing like a jolt, quicker than a Blink.

Her eyes opened violently as it made gooseflesh writhe across her scales, she erupted from the chamber, its iron doors smashing out of place as she rushed nude on the marble floor, her body smouldering as she burst through the balcony gates.

Her body erupted with embers as she hit the cool air of the coming spring, she dashed with muscled legs to the edge her taloned fingers digging into the bannister of hard stone.

She looked to the west, turned her nose east and smelt that way; no scent, darkness filled her as She turned south... and allowed the red eyes inside her to see for miles... nothing. Relaxing she turned North and--something, very small, but noticeable. It smelt... like death.

A SUBJECT HAS FALLEN.

"So it would seem."

IT IS THE GIRL, AGAIN.

"Maybe... Or perhaps."

THE BOY IS GONE.

"...."

She relaxed and leant on the bannister, overlooking the scarred city and smiled. She would have what was hers soon enough "The Strange Aeon is Nigh." She whispered, allowing her flame to go out for the night.

---

Fingers lurked among the crystals and she drew her vail up to the air. It was quiet that night on the mountain and she was grateful for it. Many times a storm had crossed over the red Gulch and disturbed Barracuda's laboratory, but there was a much more sombre and insidious tone to tonight. "V. Fetch me the Milkweed, top-shelf," spoke Barracuda, mixing her potions by the cauldron. The main chamber carved into the skin of the mountain was open to the range, giving a beautiful view of the Greenlands to the northeast. Barracuda enjoyed this cave, though she never stopped for long, it provided solace from her and her companion's... activities.

"bA'AS'TRAST." V answered.

Barracuda turned to her companion, sat in the Huge chair that she had to make her "Excuse me?"

"bA'AS'TRAST ~ WULN UST ESTA ~ HA'gILassss" V responded again sharply.

Barracuda smiled but wagged her finger at V, and rubbing at her aching groin over her long skirt "I think not, Madam, I am sore enough as it is. Now do as you're told, go get that Milkweed, this Curse isn't going to break itself."

V snorted and ruffled, her hair rumbling in all directions as if each lock of dark magenta were possessed by irritation.

"Don't start, and behave yourself -- Or you'll be finding yourself very unsatisfied for a time." Barracuda's pressing look made V slump in a childish defeat, standing while being careful not to bang her head on the ceiling as She went over to the corner of the Crytal chamber and retreated the milkweed from the top shelf and handed it down to Barracuda. "Thank you, Now go lay down, I want you strong for travel tomorrow."

"HZRAT ~ KIN ULZ ~ iTLLA"

Barracuda flushed and bit her lip as V stared with its amorous eyes "I swear all you want these days is sex, sex, sex *Sigh* fine, but You can fuck me to your heart's content later... If I feel like it, first let's get that nasty curse gone shall we?"

V, looking plenty more cheerful, plopped herself down on her knees, still towering over the much smaller Barracuda and waited with its ever quivering knees as Barracuda brewed its potion---

"!!!" Barracuda and V both jolted as they felt it, ever so faintly on the air.

Faster than a bolt, faster than You'd think, dashing like a jolt, quicker than a Blink.

Barracuda erupted out of her chair, away from her scrolls and herbs to stand at the Mountains edge "V, to me!"

Without a second thought, her body tipped over the edge and she fell; hurtling through the air like an arrow from a longbow.

V swept like a dart to her Mistress, making Barracuda feel warm inside as they fell and fell.

The sky shook and the Earth rumbled as, from below, a shadow climbed the sky and pierced the clouds to the sunshine above.

Barracuda looked and sensed, she searched and searched... but the scent was gone. She frowned and put her head in her hands.

"G'OZAN ~ q'Illyk ~ PENDRAL."

"You're right... I know you're right but... could it have really been him? I felt it so clearly, just for a moment; the blink of an eye. He's returning, I just know it!"

_"_bA'AS'TRAST ~ KIN ULZ ~ iTLLA"

"Yes-Yes, We can celebrate now. I must admit, I've been bored, worried that fate would take a different path, but it seems like the excitement will continue after all."

V and Barracuda made their way back home, quick as a dart, to celebrate the coming of their goals.

---

It was quiet today at the feast, just like every day. Banners once gold hung from the walls, once gleaming ivory, now mixed with black obsidian. The Chandelier of bone, the long table that was once filled with family... was now empty save for one.

The Princess sat in her rightful seat, at the North end of the table to the left where the Female Heirs were situated, beside the Queen's seat to the South of the table... but all of the chairs were empty.

She would peer at the tallest of the seats however and contemplate it momentarily. After ordering out the guards, she tried to enjoy the peace but wondered if dining along really was the best option.

If... Her Majesty would have joined Evangeline at that table, then would she be less lonely or more? Her uncle had been gone for so long, Morganna had abandoned her... Mother.... her mother.

Evangeline picked up the spoon beside her and contemplated her Soup... but she placed the spoon down and merely sat in silence, unsure of just how much longer she could carry on... when it happened.

Like a flash of lightning ti struck her, making her spasm and stand up in a panic, she looked around, checking her surroundings as something boiled inside of her, writhing like vines on a tree.

"Hello! how's there? HELLO!?" She called and cried, but nobody was there... and no voice greeted her.

Slumping in relief, the Princess straightened out and retook her seat, steadying her shaking hands. this had not been the first time that strange sensations had filled her body, voices had spoken in her head; unusual and extremely vivid dreams... it had to be connected to Edwyn, she had seen what their queen could do, but she refused to be like the Dread Queen, she still could do good for her people, so she would fight whatever it was that they were, she'd battle it to her last breath because that is what her father would do--

Faster than a bolt, faster than You'd think, dashing like a jolt, quicker than a Blink.

Angie froze as she smelt the Ptumirian soap that Arthur would bath in, she could almost hear his grumpy rumbling and picture his subtle, little malicious smile.

Angie laid her head on the table and softly sobbed the night away, missing her Little brother above all who did not attend their seat, at the Royal table.