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| [Introduction]
It was just before dawn that day when Kira opened her eyes, feeling the warmth beside her of another nameless patron. She did not care for this work, but she was bound to it but the golden ink upon her wrists in the shape of shackles very decoratively designed in her skin. She though it was worth it at the time. Perhaps it still was in a way, though it caused the dragoness to be quite miserable. But Malise was gone; she could terrorize no more people, for she no longer lived inside of Kira, thanks to Milek. And her only payment was her freedom and her rights to her own body. It would be worth saving innocent lives from torment and death. It just had to be. If Kira didn't believe that, life lost all meaning. She left the warmth of the bed and her patron then, taking the gold she had earned for her master and storing it away safely in case the patron meant to steal it in her absence. The dragoness then went about secluding herself in her private bathing room to wash away any proof of what had happened the night before. No matter how many times she washed herself, however, she would never feel clean. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The tavern was a bit old, but perhaps he would find what he was looking for inside. There was only one way for him to find out, after all... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness delighted in the hot water bathing over her body as she wiped away all traces of sweat and the scent of sex. After she was done, she stepped out and went into the process of drying her hair and body. Once she was ready, she stepped out of her bathroom to find the patron long gone. She was glad. Kira pulled out some of her clothes; the tradition velvet corset and red leather pants. When she was done, she walked out of her room and closed the door behind her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The air was thick with perfume and the wood stank of old sweat and something he did not want to know. It was a moment before his eyes adjusted to the darkness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira walked down the hall, oblivious to the normal scents of the tavern now after being there surrounded by it for so long. It was dim in the place, and there was lively music and talk. She could already hear the loud shouts of men and the nervous giggles of girls. Some women fell into the lifestyle easily, and was consumed by it, even enjoyed it. Kira was not one of them. Her eyes roamed for chores to do, and they set across her before going wide. There, pushing through burley men was an unmistakable face. But...how could it be him? Any why would he be here? Kira's breath caught in her throat as she ducked back into the hall, taking safety within the darkness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Excuse me," Drez managed to get his way to the bar. He caught the bartender's attention rather quickly, "What is the name of this place?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek turned about to look at the boy who had just addressed him, arching a brow questioningly. A slow smile creeped across his features. "This is my tavern; The Pandemonium. Are you looking for a good time, lad?" In the back of his mind, Milek wondered where his number one harlot was, and why she was late for her duties. He only pulled off counter work in the whee hours of the morning. Mildly irritated, he shifted his gaze from the boy's face to around the tavern briefly. There was no sign of his prized whore. Kira kept her back against the wall, her eyes closed tightly as her heart pounded within her chest. Why was he here? Above all, why now? Gods, how could she show her face with him here? Then again, if she didn't....she didn't even want to think of the consequences. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm not looking for a good time," he informed the man behind the counter, "There's a scroll in your establishment and I wish to purchase it. My mother is in need of it and what it entails." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira slid her way over to the very end of the wall, listening to Melik's word. She furrowed her brows in confusion. "A scroll?" Melik tilted his head, his hand upon his hip as he took in the man's words. "A scroll, you say? I will need to take a look in my office." He flicked his gaze toward the hall near the counter impatiently. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I will be right with you. It seems the counter waitress is late for her shift." He walked briskly around the counter, heading toward the very hall in which Kira hid. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I have very little time, Sir," Drez spoke swiftly, causing Milek to pause. "I would like to have this scroll should you have it. I am willing to pay ten pounds of gold for it." The look Milek gave the young youwarkee made Drez lick his lips worriedly, "Perhaps I might at least see it?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "With all due respect, I can't leave my counter unattended to, and at the moment, I'm the only one attending to it. Would you have some lecher rob me while I'm taking care of your problem?" Milek asked, staring at the boy with cold eyes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Why.....no...." Drez said, quite puzzled by this. His mother never had such problems, "But I am in such a hurry...." "Milek!" a voice came from behind the youwarkee and he turned about, catching sight of a man grabbing a woman by the arm and dragging her to him, "How much for this one?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chuckling softly, Milek grinned. "Five hundred gold pieces for that one." The girl did not protest at all, though her eyes seemed hollow. She glanced at her newest patron with the corners of her eyes and practically cringed. Milek shot the woman a look that instantly caused her face to go blank. Kira closed her eyes, taking deep breaths as she heard the exchange. Milek would not be occupied forever, and he would eventually come to drag her out of hiding. If HE wasn't there, it wouldn't have mattered, but... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ay!" hollered a rather rotund dwarf, "She's gettin' me a beer!" The youwarkee watched it all with absolute surprise. He'd never even imagined he'd ever set foot in such a place as this. It was a sort of slave selling place. From the looks of it--as he looked about carefully--it was a sale of just women. Many different kindred, but all of them were women. Strangely enough, few were bound in anything but a few scant remains of clothing. There were a couple of women with nothing on. Drez turned back to the bar, his face turning red as he gulped down some air. They were treating women here like copper coins...near worthless pleasantries... "I have no wish to interupt your business, Sir," he focused on keeping himself cool and aloof, like his mother had taught him, "I see you are busy, so perhaps another time would be best. Perhaps I shall see you on another day, but I have a great deal of pressing matters elsewhere as well. Is there a set time I might return for the scroll? Next week?" |
| Milek looked toward the boy again with amusement reflecting in his own gaze, stroking his chin in thought before flicking his gaze toward the hall again. His emerald eyes seemed to glow amber for a second. "I've taken care of that gentlemen already, but you must understand, for me to attend to you, I need one of the girls to look after the counter." Kira kissed in pain as the tattoos on her wrists glowed an angry gold, biting her lip roughly as she closed her eyes. "Damn it." 'What are you doing, hm? You were supposed to be out here an hour ago!' came the irritated growl of her Master. 'Where are you hiding?!' Kira's eyes widened, and a shriek let loose as she was hurled into view by the mere force of Milek's power. She fell deftly upon her knees, biting her lip still as she hastily stood up. Milek walked hastily over to the girl he had summoned, and yanked her over by the wrist. "You are never late, sweetheart, what keeps you today, hm?" Kira shrank from him as much as possible, refusing to look at the man standing there in front of the counter. Maybe...maybe he wouldn't recognize her... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee stared in both shock and facination. This man seemed to hold the same powers as his mother! Yet, from the looks of things, he used his powers for darker workings than that of the youwarkees. His eyes fell to the girl in question. Head bowed and--from the looks of things--poorly treated, she looked anything but happy about her predicament. A strange knot formed in his chest as he eyed her coloring and the distinct draconic markings. She had to be at least part dragon; she could possibly be a dragoness. Still, he had heard nothing of a dragoness outside of Aunt Rose's family... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'He won't recognize me. He'll walk away and be none the wiser. He can't recognize me,' she thought to herself frantically as she stared at the floor scurrying behind the counter and setting to her chores, her back turned. Milek turned his attention back toward the man asking for the scroll then, hearing Kira's distant thoughts with a slight frown. 'You know this man, do you?' 'And let us hope he does not know me,' replied Kira meekly. Milek smirked slightly, making no comment as he looked back toward the boy. "Now, about that scroll..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For another moment, Drez stared at her before shaking his head, clearing it before eyeing Milek. "I have no problem paying for the scroll, Sir, but I would like to see it first. I'm afraid that not everyone is a trustworthy sort." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Of course," Milek replied smoothly, veering about to walk toward his office casually. "Now that the serving girl has finally taken her place where she belongs, I've no worries." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez followed after Milek, wondering if he ought to have brought Alydee with him. She might have been a bit more careful with the negotiations than himself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira dared to look up at Drez as he passed, his back to her now as he followed Milek into his office. She gnawed on her lip, emotions warring with one another as she watched him disappear around the corner. Gods, she never thought anyone from her past would show up in her life again... The dragoness attempted to push it aside, going about everything in her normal orderly fashion, though only half of her attention was on it. She didn't notice the burley giant of a man stalking up to the counter until her snatched her wrist in his over-sized hand. "You and me, girly, right now." He grinned and she could smell the alcohol off of his breath. Kira looked up at him, trying to remain impassive, but barely hiding the terror in her voice. "If you want to spend the night with me or any of the other girls, you'll need to speak to the Master of this Tavern to inquire a purchase." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez eyed the scroll carefully. It was made by youwarkee hand, that was for certain, but there was something about it that worried him. "...Where did you get this scroll?" he glanced up at Milek, "Do you know if there are others like it?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The scroll was something I found a year before I found the serving girl who took over the counter. That was three years ago. I've had that scroll for nearly five years now. I've not found another like it, but it seemed to have a great deal to do with the girl. I was interested in what it had to say about her, so I searched for her...and now, here she is," Milek offered, smirking in amusement. A shrill squeal tore through the tavern, setting Milek's eyes ablaze with curiosity. "Apparently, they're at her again without paying. I'll have to deal with them before they rape her on top of the counter, sl if you'll excuse me." He walked toward the door without much haste. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rape? Drez was up and after Milek without thought. He stood in the door, a look of horror across his face as he watched the scene unfold about him. The woman from before was plastered against the bar, her arms in a rather awkward position--the left one looked broken. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira was practically hyperventilating when Milek's look of outrage caught the scene. The man prodding at her nether regions with his hands was flung out of the tavern through the door, and Milek stalked over to her instantly. "Damn," he growled as he surveyed the damage, the dragoness near tears as he lifted her twisted arm. "Looks like a broken arm. That's perfect." He turned back around and the burley man who had done the damage was flung at Milek's feet. "You broke my best girl's arm, you imbecile." The man was too dazed to answer. "Three days. That's all you have to make up five thousand gold coins before you wish you were born impotent." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez stood there in the doorway to the office. The girl's face in perfect view now. Kira... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira bit her lip hard, tasting blood, as Milek moved her, pulling her up into his arms and carrying her into his office. If it was one thing the man loathed, it was when idiots damaged the girls he worked so hard to keep in such good shape. The dragoness was quite dismayed, still refusing to meet Drez's eyes, though she knew for a fact that he was staring at her. She could feel the burn of his gaze, and could picture his eyes turning their silver color when he was emotional. Gods, why did he have to be there? |
| "Will she be alright?" inquired Drez before he even realized he spoke. He cringed for a moment, realizing just how obvious that made it sound that he knew her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek set her sitting on top of her desk before glancing at Drez, amusement shining in his eyes for a moment. "She'll be fine." He set to work immediately, pulling her arm out straight, causing the girl to cry out in pain. A green aura surrounded her arm before he let go. "Don't move until it disappears," he said gravely. Kira sighed heavily, her eyes tightly shut as she nodded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee watched this with curiosity before handing the scroll back to Milek, "What do you want for the scroll?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek glanced at Drez then, taking a look at the scroll for a moment before rolling it up again. "Five hundred." Kira glanced up at Milek for a moment, wondering if that was the same scroll that supposedly had something to do with her. It didn't matter all that much, but it was something to get her mind off of her arm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee nodded and reached for one of the pouches on his belt, "Fair enough. I'll take it immediately. Are you certain there are no more?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I haven't found another since this one; happens to be about this girl here too." Milek cast an amused gazed upon Kira, who did not return the look. "That's how I found her, wandering, begging to die, or to be saved from her own personal hell." The dragoness dug her claws into her right shoulder in aggravation at the attention he was casting upon her. She did not want Drez to pay her any mind. She only wished for him to leave with great haste, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Yes...." Drez mumbled. It was a hard choice. There were many scrolls that he had to find for his mother and some would be near impossible if he wasted too much time. Then again, perhaps this was the real reason his mother sent him on this hunt. He'd known there was some other motive, but it'd never occured to him that this might have been it. If only he knew.... "So you're telling me that this scroll has proven helpful, but has everything it's claiming here been true? There are three sections written in six different languages here." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira raised her head and stared at Drez for a moment, surprised. What did the scroll say about her? Anything at all important? Did it foretell her fate? "There were words I did not recognize, but I found the girl where the first paragraph implied," Milek answered, finding no harm in playing this game. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So you did not bother to translate the any of the rest of the scroll..." Drez puzzled. Shaking his head he eyed Kira, wondering what would be the best option, "Would you consider selling me the girl then...permenantly?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm a busy man. I don't have time to dabble with translating an entire foot long scroll," Milek replied, crossing his arms and eyeing him. "And I highly doubt you are carrying half of what I would expect for this girl. She is my finest." Kira had nearly choked when she had heard Drez ask Milek if he would sell her. Even if he would, how could she go with him? Malise would return... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You did not name a price, Sir," answered Drez calmly, "You will not know the answer to such a thing without a price to decide by." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek shifted his gaze toward Kira for a moment. "What are you willing to pay? Anything? I know for a fact that it is not just the scroll that attracts you to her." 'No, no, no...you'll just encourage his confidence!' Kira protested silently, but Milek did not give a reply. Whether or not he heard her remained a mystery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The price of the girl, Sir. I mean permenantly, no catches, no loop holes. Just her." Drez spoke evenly, wondering if he sounded as confident as he was trying to be. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I do not wish to be sold to this man, Master," Kira's voice spoke loudly, echoing through the room. Her eyes did not stray from Milek. "I gave myself to you in a contract to pay for the favor you had done for me. My debt remains unpaid, and I would imagine that if you were to sell me off to some nitpicker from old country, that the contract would be broken and the favor undone." Milek's eyes shone with laughter. Her words were quite bold and ruthless. He turned his gaze back toward Drez. "And what if she wants to stay, hm? You heard it yourself." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez smiled back, his face darkening strangely, "She is your property, Sir. If you sold her to me, she would have no such choice in the matter and thus her words mean little." He forced himself not to be swayed by what Kira was saying. She couldn't mean to stay here, could she? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "She is my best girl, boy," Milek replied. "Unless you can offer me a price that will more than compensate her loss, I will have to abide by her wishes." He paused, chuckling softly as he ran a hand through his blond hair. "One hundred million." The dragoness gripped the edge of the desk, growing slightly pale. "If you mean to take me from here, I will slip away from you and come back here," she whispered. "I will not go with you. I don't care if you buy me or not." Milek laughed softly. "Oh dear...she means to be stubborn." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Then I would hope she knows just how stubborn my kind are," he answered. He stroked his chin and eyed Kira again, "We would need someone to draw up the papers for such a thing. Do you have someone in mind?" |
| "I know perfectly well how stubborn your kind can be, and I am telling you that I will kill you before I leave here," Kira said coldly. She forced such words out of herself with an effort, but she would not leave here, not for anyone or anything. Milek glanced at her, smirking slightly at her words before he turned his attention back to Drez. "You mean to tell me that you have such bounty at you waist here and now, lad?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I do not divulge how much bounty I have, Sir," Drez answered so nonchalantly, he could have stated he had three times as much. "I trust you understand my reasons for this." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek crossed his arms, surveying him silently for a moment. "You know her from before; and she is important to that scroll of yours, but if you think she will go willingly, you've got quite the battle on your hands." The emerald aura wore off then, and Kira's arm remained flawless as it ever had been. She removed herself from the desk and walked toward the exit, past Drez. "I'm going to my room." Milek glanced at her for a moment before drawing some papers. He didn't think he would lose her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few hours later, Drez had hammered out a deal his mother would have been proud of....if she ever thought of buying an old friend that refused to be bought. The papers were signed and noterized with great speed, but Milek had a rather odd stipulation. Kira was not to be handed over untilt he morning. The youwarkee wasn't pleased with that one, "I do not see why I must pay now if I do not get my share of the bargain now." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The girl deserves the right of a night's rest to ponder and to get used to the fact she has been sold. I also have the right to continue with her duties until then. If you wish to spend the night with her, a down payment will suffice," Milek said accordingly, smiling lightly. "Ten thousand, that is." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "And the rest in the morning?" inquired Drez, giving Milek a look he'd seen his mother give his father when she was suspicious of some mischief. Once agreed, Drez quickly dropped the amount in Milek's greedy hands and watched as he made a secret door open to a small tunnel. So, Kira was not safe even in her own room.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sat on the large bed of her quarters, her claws digging into the sheets angrily as she thought of how stupid that youwarkee was. If he truly thought that she was just going to leave here, he was sadly mistaken. The secret doorway to her room opened, and she turned slightly at the sound before turned back to face her front door. She crossed her legs restless, and heard footsteps. When they stopped and the doorway closed, she closed her eyes. "You're an idiot," she whispered viciously. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A fine way to say thank you," retorted Drez as he dropped his saddlebag by the secret door. He was grateful that his money was kept safely on him. A place like this could easily steal him blind, and any more than a million might as well have done so. "Whatever he's got over your head, Kira, you know that Mother can fix it! So stop arguing and pack. I'll die before I let you do this to yourself anymore!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm not going," Kira said plainly enough. "I don't care what you have to say, what you claim, or why you're here. I am not going with you. You can hound me, follow me around, and try to drag me out, but I won't go." The dragoness took in a deep breath before letting it out, casting Drez an ill glance. "You've wasted your million, Drez. You may as well have spent it on a good time." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee stared at Kira, "A good time of what?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness rolled her eyes and sighed. "Never mind, Drez." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "...Kira," Drez came to sit next to her on the bed; he reached out and trached a knuckle over her cheek, "I can't leave you." He raised her eyes to look at him, "I need you to come with me; to be with me. Please, Kira...I've finally found you again." The youwarkee gulped down the knot in his throat as his voice broke, "Don't make me let you go all over again. Come with me...please, Kira....?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness stared at him as if she didn't comprehend what eh was saying for a moment. She then closed her eyes, shaking her head, her hands raising to fall upon her shoulders. She massaged her neck, at a loss of what to do. "I can't leave here, Drez. I'm bound to this place for as long as the contract is unfulfilled." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tell me, Kira," pleaded Drez, "We can work something out...I don't want to lose you again." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't want to break the contract, Drez..." Kira replied in her own pleading tone. "It's my only way to atone for the innocents who suffered because of me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So you would refuse me, Kira....?" Drez turned away, shocked and deeply hurt, "...You're all I've thought about for years now and you would refuse to come with me...to let me help you..." Standing up, he went to look out the window. His hands braced against the ledge, he didn't look behind him as he spoke, "Do you know how much that hurts me, Kira?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "And do you know how much it hurts me for you to see me like this?" the dragoness retorted. "I am not proud of this life, nor do I enjoy it, Drez! Why would I want you to find me like this, and then buy me off like some sort of cattle?" she snapped, her hands tightening into fists. Kira closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down over her cheeks. "I can't keep relying on others to help me. I relied on my parents to do that, and look what happened to them..." She rose from her seat on her bed and turned to face the youwarkee's back. "I want to be able to rely on myself, and not cause anyone else any more suffering. Leaving here will cause that. I can't risk it; not after finally being rid of...her." Kira turned away, letting her hands slide down over her face as she sighed. "You sound like I've just refused a proposal, Drez. What are you really after?" |
| "You, Kira," answered Drez quietly, "Haven't you figured that out yet? A youwarkee loves for life. I've always loved you...." Shame colored his cheeks, "I suppose I should have known you'd never want me--to never see me again. I'll go...I'll pay what I owe and leave...you'll never see me again." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira felt her legs weaken, and she let herself collapse on her bed with a dull thud, her hands sliding up to cover her face. Love; he claimed to be in love with her. That was just wonderful. "Drez, a youwarkee only loves for life after they've mated." She removed her hands and looked at him. "In other words, you would have had to have sex with me to be bound to me." Slowly, she sat back up, leaning against her arms as her hands rested on the bed. "I don't have the option to want anyone, so I've never thought of love, or anything of the sort. Call me naive, or whatever, but...I didn't notice, really." Kira glanced at him for a moment. "And Milek would never allow his best whore to have a lover. You'd have to pay him to even see me!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "That's why I'm paying him off," answered Drez, his eyes glittered silver as he spun about. Dragging hand through his hair, he closed his eyes, recollecting himself, "Kira...You mean the world to me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Drez...I can't go with you. It's not a matter of not wanting to...it's a matter of having to stay here," Kira stated softly, curling up on her bed with a soft sigh. "If I'm to be free of Malise, I have to stay here." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mother can fix that, Kira," insisted Drez, "She's made demons vanish before. She's even made immortals mortal! I know she could help you. You could forget about this place forever...come with me. We'd never have to be apart again!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira stared at her front door, thoughts racing through her head at an incomprehensible speed. "I can't just rely on your mother or you for everything, Drez. That is not how I should learn to solve my problems. Neither of you will be around forever. Malise is part of my soul, Drez. You can't just get rid of her." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Come with me and prove it," answered Drez, "Just let me try! If it doesn't work, I'll let you do whatever you want! But, please, Kira..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't need to prove it," Kira retorted. "I've tried killing myself, and she's healed me, tried starving myself on nutrition, and her power has continued my life even when my body was ready to give up. If not for her power and connection to my life force, I would have been dead ten times over by now." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you talking about Malise or Mother?" mused Drez curiously. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Your mother doesn't share my life force, Drez, what do you think?" Kira replied lowly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If anyone knows how to help you, Kira, it's Mother," Drez sighed as he plopped down on the floor. He rubbed his face with his hands and sighed, feelin utterly defeated, "Would you at least let us try, Kira? There's nothing wrong with that. I'll do whatever you want... Just let me try and help you! That's all I ask!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sighed heavily. "And what if you fail? What makes you so sure you can do anything for me? And what if Milek won't accept me back?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Do you really think he'll deny you, Kira? He said you're the best he has. Why would he refuse to let you back when he knows full well that you will bring him more money?" He frowned for a moment before turning to look at her, "Just let me try to help you, Kira. I'll never be able to rest in peace if you won't let me do this." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira crossed her arms, shaking her head a little as tears formed in her eyes. "I don't want her back. Not even for a second." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Then come with me. I know Mother can make her go away forever and you won't have to worry that Milek may let her back to hurt you!" Drez came over and took Kira's hands in his own, looking up into her eyes with such pleading in his own that it was quite impossible not to give in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sighed again, closing her eyes, as she couldn't bear to look at him. "And how could she do that, hm? She didn't rid herself of her own demon, did she?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Do you think Mother wants to do that?" inquired the youwarkee with a shake of his head, "They're both happy sharing the same body. Why would Mother bother to get rid of a demon like that?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira fell silent once more, staring blankly ahead of herself for a moment. "Milek keeps Malise trapped." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "But not removed or destroyed or what have you," he said with a sigh. "You're never completely rid of her here, are you, Kira? You know he could let her come back to you at any moment he pleases." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You can't destroy Malise, Drez!" Kira exclaimed. "If you kill her, you kill me!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You think so?" inquired Drez with a faint smile, "Wouldn't you think a Legend Keeper would know wheher or not that's possible?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "She is connected to my life force, Drez," Kira stated flatly. "I can't see how it wouldn't be like that." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There are a lot more like you than you'd think," pouted Drez as he settled down next to her, still holding one of her hands in his own, "Part of your lifeforce or no, Mother will know for sure if Malise can't be removed completely. Milek hasn't even bothered to translate the rest of that scroll! He's meddling in something that's about you and he doesn't even know what will happen because of it!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Who cares," Kira stated sullenly. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm as good as dead anyway." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez stood up. He couldn't believe he was giving up as he turned away. "I've tried all I can think of Kira. Now you'll just have to deal with what I will have to do now." His voice was so empty, he wondered if there was anything left inside. He'd take Kira away from here no matter what she did. There was no choice in the matter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "What are you talking about?" Kira asked, her brows furrowing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Goodnight, Kira," Drez spoke softly, "I'll see you in the morning. With that said, he settled down on the floor by the secret door. |
| Kira stared at him, dumbfounded and irritated that she had no idea what was going on. Restless as she was, she left her room, spending her time out in the bar until dawn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez came out of Milek's office, shaking the man's hand as he did so. "So, we're agreed?" he inquired. "Perfectly," grinned Milek, he could just imagine the gold he would acquire like this. "Good. I will be back in two days time to collect my property. I've no doubt that you will see to it she is in as good a shape as she is presently upon my return." Leaving Milek, Drez pulled Kira aside, trapping her between his arms as he whispered t her, "I know you'll probably never want to see me again, Kira. But promise me that if I can get rid of Malise--that I can do what Milek has done for you, you'll come home with me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A shudder ran through Kira as Drez closed in upon her while she stared blankly across the room for a moment. She nearly didn't hear what he had said, his heat was intoxicating. Her arms came up to entwine themselves around his waist. She buried her face into his shoulder and sighed. "Drez if you can find a way to make sure she never comes back without forcing me to leave here, then I'll do whatever you ask of me," she whispered back, taking in as much of him as she could in those moments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez was bemused by what she was doing. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, trying to focus, "Milek will take care of you until I return. I'll be gone no more than two days, Kira. When I return, I'll know what to do." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I've missed you, Drez," the dragoness murmured as if she hadn't heard him, staring up into his golden eyes lovingly. "I wish you didn't have to leave." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He looked down at her, wondering why she was saying that now. Earlier, she'd been ready to kick him out herself, "I'll be back as soon as I can, Kira." He did his best not to kiss her, leaning away enough so that he could stare into her eyes, "I love you, Kira." He pressed her against the wall, kissing her so suddenly, the dragoness gasped. Then, he was gone, headed out the door before he could change his mind. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira was panting as Drez shut the door behind him, sliding down to the floor as she stared at the exit blankly. Gods! Why did he have to do it like that? She was about ready to die! Slowly, the dragoness stood on quivering legs, her heart beating frantically as she walked back to her room. She wished the youwarkee was there waiting for her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Swinging onto Sancho, Drez turned back for a moment, "I'll be back, Kira." He whispered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira lived through the next couple of days as if they were merely a dream. Sometimes she wondered if she would just wake up to find that Drez had never been there, and that she was still indebted to work as a harlot. It didn't exactly happen that way...but when she'd gone in heat...things happened that the dragoness would never repeat to anyone. She hated when that happened; when her blood boiled so badly, she didn't have the capacity to even think. Nevermind; she wouldn't tell Drez of these things. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Triumph lit the youwarkee's face as he kissed his mother's cheek and bolted for the door. Success never felt so good! He almost forgot to belt the saddle on as he tugged Sancho out of his stable, "Come on, Boy," grinned Drez, "She's almost free!" "Zemeissi!" Rayne's voice came from the inn, "Remember what I told you about that man." He was gone before she could speak another words. "Children are so hasty," grumbled the youwarkee as she turned and ran right into the chest of her elven mate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sighed in aggravation as she laid in her bed, unable to sleep. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her. She supposed she was restless because Drez would be there in the morning or something. Perhaps it was just nervousness. The dragoness rolled over onto her back soundlessly, staring up at the ceiling as she waited for dawn. She hoped all went well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee slipped into the tavern quietly. It would be only a matter of time before Milek noticed him. The office door was open and he slipped in, well aware he was tredding on more and more dangerous ground as he continued. He looked about, carefully eyeing everything that looked ordinary. It was but a moment before he spotted what he was looking for. A seemingly harmless quill rested on the desk. Quickly, he tucked it into his tunic and slipped out the window. Milek would think very little about the quill, but he didn't realize the full extent of the scroll he had had in his possession. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sat up and sighed, looking out the window for a while before rising out of bed. She couldn't just stay there all night if she couldn't sleep. Quickly, she threw something of and left her room. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just far enough away from the inn not to be discovered, the youwarkee had cleared an area. The grassy knoll was a perfect spot for what he inteneded. Curling the sheild about him, he started. He would first have to bring Malise before him before placing her into one of three hosts he'd brought. Drez looked down at the items on hand. Only one was a living creature. The two pendants he'd brought were the only ones he could find. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mouse was encaged so that it could not escape, and it was only a matter of time before he would be able to summon Malise before him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The quill was placed in the center and seven white pebbles surrouned it. The youwarkee concentrated, reciting the words from the very scroll he'd taken from Milek. The quill lifted up, twirling and wriggling as if it were being torn open from the inside out. Shattering into a million needle-sized pieces, Drez consiously covered his eyes with an arm. A voice he'd not heard before--though he was certain Kira had heard it many times--spoke to him before he even lowered his arm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You mean to seal me away for the very nature to which I was born?" Malise mused lowly. "She had not even thought to give a bonding a chance before she gave her life away. It could have been better...had she learned to get along with me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "And you with her, no doubt," answered Drez as he started the rest of the ritual, "I know it's not much, but I've brought you a choice of three items instead of the usual one. Mother--Rayne--suggested it." He quickly placed the items between them. The youwarkee dared to look up now, curious to know what she looked like. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Her carmine colored hair streaked ebony seemed to glow and flutter about her as the entity that she was. Her red garb stood out against her white skin as she stared at Drez, brow arched. "These items....they change nothing. I am still bound to the girl. Nothing you can do will change that, just as there was nothing that pest could have done. I bide my time until the spells are destroyed; patience is a virtue, they say." Malise stared out across the horizon, toward the tavern where the love stricken dragoness lay restless. "She is restless and lonely with waiting. She has no patience." The demoness looked down at Drez once more. "I would be more willing to get along with the girl now, than if you trapped me in one of those...things...and I had to free myself." She smiled dryly. "She is lost without me; lost are her skills of protecting herself, and you will not always be there. What will you do, dear boy? Am I so evil, I do not deserve another chance?" |
| "There is little that is pure evil in this world, Malise," answered Drez with a sigh. "I hold no judgement over you. I do what I must for Kira. This displacement isn't permenant, I know, but Kira wishes it. I see no other way to save her." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The demoness stared at him thoughtfully. "She will not survive without me, Drez," she said levelly. "I do not lie to save myself, for it is a fact. We are bound together for as long as she may live. It says so in the second scroll." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I realize that there are three scrolls, Malise," answered Drez as he finished the ritual, "But for now, I am content to let her have her way. No doubt you know that that is part of the first scroll. In time, Malise, I'm sure things will work out. But I'm afraid that while you're willing to live with her, she is not." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "She will never be willing," Malise said flatly. "The only way for her to accept it is to not allow her to have her way." The demoness narrowed her eyes at the objects, thoroughly irritated. "She will have to live with me eventually; you know it, as both our mothers do. She will never escape that." She rose her eyes to the youwarkee's. "You do know that...if I am to choose the pendant, it is the girl who will have to wear it. If you tell her I am there, she will refuse, but it is the only way I can still protect her. I'm sure you've read that in the scroll as well." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mother is quite pointed on that note," answered Drez as he shook his head, "The choice of object is yours. I'm sure Kira will have much to learn in the coming months. I only hope you have the patience and understanding needed for it all." He frowned as he thought to himself, his mother had been rather pointed about certain things she normally wasn't. Perhaps there was some connection between Rathsar and Malise? It would explain the few times he'd noticed notes from his mother that were a bit off her normal way of things -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malise watched him, amused as she realized he did not know who her mother was. This would be a very interesting ordeal. "I do wonder what your...mother has been so pointed about." The demoness looked between each pendant and pointed to the one on the far right. "Make sure she wears it." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You would think that I would disagree with you there, Malise?" Drez shook his head, "I can only hope Kira isn't too put off being more or less forced to wear you." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malise smiled, bemused. "You could make it easy for her and just give it to her as a...parting gift...leaving the tavern, and never mention that I am there..." She chuckled softly. "But that is up to you, and not I." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I would have thought you'd know me better than that," answered Drez as he pushed the other items aside, "I find little good in telling lies. Let alone leaving the truth out of things." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malise shrugged her shoulders. "It would be easier for her to wear, and it's not exactly lying if you say nothing." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez shook his head, "That's a worry. But I will tell her. Besides, I'm terrible at doing anything but anyway." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It will be a mistake on your part," Malise said, shrugging. "She'll throw it away while you're not looking; she'll do anything to get rid of me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The amulet hung between them and Drez met Malise's eyes once more, "In time, we may see each other face to face again. I hope things turn out well. Good bye, Malise." White wisps circled about them, slowly curling about his subject. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Malise shook her head, wondering if her fate and the girls' would turn to calamity all because that boy was naive. She yielded to the pendant, hoping beyond all hope that both were not as stupid as they sometimes acted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standing up, the youwarkee pocketed the pendant and strode towards the inn. If Milek held to their agreement, Kira would have been treated with a least a little more care. He'd not gotten through the front door when that very man caught sight of him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek walked over to Drez, frowning slightly as he glanced back at Kira, who was entertaining a couple of men. "Your dragoness seems to be enjoying her "job" a little too much for someone who hated it here before." He chuckled, shaking his head. "It's as if someone slipped something in her drink." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee eyed him carefully, "I would hope that she is in as good a condition as what he agreed. And as in our agreement, here is the extra two thousand for keeping her while I was away. And we'll be leaving just as soon as Kira is ready." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milek looked back toward Kira, brow arched as she continued to flirt with the man there. "I think she's drugged, but other than that, no harm has come to her. It should wear off soon." He looked back toward Drez. "It is not harmful; she's in perfect condition." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Most likely wonderful condition for you," mumbled Drez as he rolled his eyes. He made his way into the bar and right up behind the dragoness. His hand fell on her shoulder just as the man looked up at him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira turned, smiling up at him. "About time you got back, I was getting all worried and restless!" She threw her arms about his neck, kissing him soundly. "I thought I should relax, so I came out to do something to take my mind of things." She giggled feverishly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eh, wot's dis?" the man moved to get between them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira turned to look at him shortly, shaking her head. "I don't work here anymore, hon, you're gonna have to find a different whore to purchase." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He wasn't taking no for an answer as he grabbed Kira by the arm. Drez was knocked to the side as the bulk of his body swung around. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira kicked the man between the legs. "You're separating soulmates here, get OFF!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez sat on the ground, arms resting on his knees. He'd never seen Kira act like that. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The man crumpled to the floor, in terrible pain as Kira fumed at him. "I'm not a whore anymore, you bunch of dirt bags!" With that, she turned herself around, and practically fell on top of Drez, giggling happily. "You got her, right? Tell me she's gone!" She pulled back, kissing him hard on the mouth out of her own delirious excitement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez couldn't catch his breath. He got to his feet wobbily, Kira practically dragging him down as he did so, "Yeah....I...ah...um..." |
| The dragoness stared at him, her eyes alight. "She's gone! She's gone forever, isn't she!?" She kissed him again...and again, continuing to do so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digging into his pocket, he tried his best to answer her, "She's not....Ki--" The pendant fell to the floor and Drez had to bend over to pick it up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness pulled back, looking down at the pendant as he picked it up. "What's that?" She took it from him; a dragon pendant of two dragon's holding a large red stone between them. "It's pretty!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Um, it's has--" Drez tried, scratching the back of his head just before Kira knocked him backwards once more, planting a rather sloppy kiss on his face. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira pulled back again, having sat in his lap quite comfortably. "What's it for, hm? Is it for me?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Yes, it's--" the youwarkee stopped as she snatched it from his fingers. Perfedt he was meaning to tell her it was Malise, but how would she take it and would she even remember telling her that it was? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira looked at it hanging from her fingers. "I love dragon jewelry, she exclaimed. She unclasped the back of the chain and wound it around her neck, clasping it again. It fell above her chest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee frowned with annoyance. This was definitely not going to go over well. Kira was drugged. She was probably as tipsy as he'd seen his father and his dwarven friend. "Come on, Kira," He slowly ushered her towards the hallway, "Let 's get whatever is yours and get out of here." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well, all I really own is the clothing, and I'm not sure if you'll want me prancing around in corsets and mini skirts." The dragoness giggled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee frowned at Kira, wondering just what had gotten into her. "Then you're ready to leave?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm going need more clothes if we're going to be traveling anywhere," the dragoness said, leaning into Drez and burying her face in his chest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee's nose wrinkled slightly at the smell of alcohol on her breath. So she was drunk? "I'll buy you some at the nearest town," he promised, "Let's just get out of here." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled up at him, hugging him tightly. "Okay!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He hauled her up on Sancho and hurried them away, wondering if Milek would know or notice that Malise was going with them. It worried him what might happen in the future, but right now? He just wanted to get Kira home where he and his mother could care for her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira was not quite herself for most of the day. It wasn't until Drez had set up camp that the drug Milek has briefly described started to wear off. The dragoness was napping at the time, rolling over closer to the fire before she awoke slowly, groaning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "A little sick in the aftermath?" inquired Drez as he gingerly placed a pot on the coals, "Well enough to keep dinner down, Kira?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira rolled over again to look at him through one opened eye. "I have a headache..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee shook his head, "You shouldn't have taken whatever you had then. What did you drink anyway?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I had one drink...I took a...drug..." the dragoness answered with a sigh. "I do it sometimes to block things out...or to relax...I think I took too much of it this time." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You shouldn't be doing things like that," frowned the youwarkee as he looked up from the food, "It could do something bad to your body. Mother won't even drink...." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira let out a low, bitter laugh. She couldn't help it. She had already had terrible things done to her body after all. What worse could she do to herself? "As if being every man's play thing isn't damaging enough," he dragoness uttered, closig her eyes painfully. "I'm sorry Drez, but if you understood the kind of things I've had to go through in that place, you'd undersand exactly why I used to drug myself during a lot of the sessions. I didn't think I'd actally taken that much of it earlier today...maybe I over-estimated the amount." Kira opened her eyes, looking up at the starlit sky solemnly. "I was afraid I would do something stupid while you were gone in all my worry and panic, that's all." She moved to get up soon after, feeling something warm ove off her chest inside her corset. She furrowed her brows, pullinh a chain around her neck and pluckig the pendant neatly out of ts hiding place. She stared at the heart-shaped ruby a moment before realization dawned on her. "You had this, didn't you?" Kira looked over at the youwarkee, qustioningly. "Was this supposed to be for me, or did I just assume that and snatch it from you? I can't quite remember..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Something along the side of both," answered Drez, "You never let me explain that either." The half smile on his face stayed there for a moment before he turned back to the food, "Hungry, Kira? I made us some food." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Explain?" Kira wondered aloud for a moment before she moved closer to the fire beside Drez. "I hop I wasnt entirely too hard to deal with. I tend to get...strange when I'm like that...which likely will never happen again f I never have to go back there." The dragoness took her plate, picking at her food slowly as she stared into the fire. She looked dow at the pendant just atop her chest thoughtfully. "Pretty red," she said absent-mindedly. She glanced at Drez for a moment, curious. "She didn't try to hurt you when you sealed her...did she?" |
| "I don't think it even crossed her mind," answered Drez with a shrug, "She did ask that I give her a chance, but I told her it was your choice. I'm not going to make that choice for you, Kira. If you don't want her there then that's just your choice." He sighed before sitting back with his plate, "I think she knows something I don't..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira leaned i, her chin against her hand as she sat listening to him. "What did she say?" The dragoness scooted closer, leaning her head against the youwarkee's shoulder as she finished with her plate. "What makes you think that?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's not a matter of what one says, Kira," Drez frowned, "and I haven't a clue why it is that I think that, I just do. It's like Mother said youwarkees were like. We know things without really knowing that we know them...." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness stared into the fire thoughtfully for a moment before glancing up at Drez. "It just unnerves me, I guess. I don't like thinking that she has some sort of plan..." Kira sighed softly and shifted, throwing her arms about the youwarkee's neck spontaneously. "Sii-Sii...are we heading home now?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee grinned, "I was hoping to. Do you mean the forest or the inn?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Inn," Kira smiled, looking up at him sweetly. She reached up nand pulled his face toward her own, kissing him soundly. It wasn't uch longer before she was in her lap. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee felt a purr pass his lips as the dragoness wriggled her way closer to him. He absently wondered what she was doing, but it felt to good to stop to ask her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira nipped his bottom lip delighted at the sounds that ensued, and she too began to purr with utter euphoria. Things like this were priceless; she had never felt so much pleasure in these actions before. When the dragoness pulled back, her head bent to nip the youwarkee's ear. "Love you," she whispred coyly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee yelped slightly in surprise, pulling back to look at the draogness in confusion, "What...what are you doing, Kira?" A hand went straight to his ear, wondering if she'd pricked a hole there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira looked up at him, confused herself for a moment before she started to blush. She fidgeted with the laces of her corset, looking down into her lap as she shrugged. "I was just...being affectionate..." The dragoness glanced up at him, feeling a little stupid. "You don't like it, do you? I can stop." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I...I'm not sure," mumbled the youwarkee. He pouted a little as he rubbed his ear, looking at her with curiosity. Affection was the same as biting? He'd never heard anything about that in all the years he'd been on legends and such. Perhaps it was some sort of traditional show of emotion for dragoness? If that was the case, should he do the same to her? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira watched him quietly, wondering if she had done something wrong. It had oly come to her as if it'd been second nature; she hadn't even paid attention to what she had been doing until Drez had stopped her. "I wasn't thinking when I was doing that..." she said lowly, shrugging her shoulders. "It came to me naturally." She looked at him with a worried expression. "I didn't hurt you, did I?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Nno..." Drez wrinkled his nose as he dropped his hand to Kira's waist, "But you startled me. I've never been...bitten by someone out of...affection?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness flushed a little darker. "If you don't like it, then I'll try not to do it anymore." She shifted herself in his lap kissing his cheek. "I didn't mean to surprise you." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee made a few attempts at another remark before sighing and looking at Kira with a confused expression, "I really don't know if I don't like it or not..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira arched her brows, amused in some sort of fashion by the entire situation. "Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?" She leaned in, kissing him soundly, taking his bottom lip in between her teeth gently to nibble. She ran her claws mildly over the flesh of hs neck, looking for any sort of reaction. The dragoness pulled back then, leaning down to take the flesh of the youwarkee's neck in between her teeth, suckling and nipping lightly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez's eyes grew huge as she did this. He pulled away, a look of horror on his face, "By the Legends, what...." he spoke so softly it was almost impossible to hear, "what's wrong with me?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean, Drez?' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blushing so badly, it seemed all the blood in his body was in his face, he looked away. "Um...I....ah...." He glanced at Kira once before groaning, "Oh Gods! I must be sick!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tell me what's wrong," Kira urged him, reaching up to catch his chin so he looked at her. "I've dealt with men for for a good two years, Drez. I can almost most certainly tell you if there is anything wrong with you based on what's happening." The youwarkee was baffled and stumbling over his words, and the dragoness sighed, running her fingers down his back gently to soothe him. Not long after she started that, she felt something like a twitch underneath her and she looked down at Drez's lap, realization dawning on her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If he could blush any deeper, the youwarkee could have. He scooted out from underneath Kira and quickly covered himself. Whatever it was that was going on, he most definitely didn't want Kira to notice it as much as he was! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Drez," Kira sighed as she looked up at him, bemused. The dragoness took hold of his hands and pulled them away, staring at him as one of her hands nestled itself in the spot he was covering. She gave a gentle squeeze, smiling slightly at the sudden gasp the youwarkee let loose. "It's normal for a male's body to react this way when a woman or any sort of significant other, or partner performs certain acts of affection and, or, sexual acts." Kira moved closer to him, enveloping him into her arms. "In other words...there's absolutely nothing wrong with you...You're just unfamiliar with these sort of reactions your body is giving off. It's nothing bad at all." |
| "Drez," Kira sighed as she looked up at him, bemused. The dragoness took hold of his hands and pulled them away, staring at him as one of her hands nestled itself in the spot he was covering. She gave a gentle squeeze, smiling slightly at the sudden gasp the youwarkee let loose. "It's normal for a male's body to react this way when a woman or any sort of significant other, or partner performs certain acts of affection and, or, sexual acts." Kira moved closer to him, enveloping him into her arms. "In other words...there's absolutely nothing wrong with you...You're just unfamiliar with these sort of reactions your body is giving off. It's nothing bad at all." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee blushed a little, more embarassed now than ever, "For all the legends I've studied, I don't think this ever came up." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira chuckled silently. "You're so innocent, Drez." The dragoness sighed softly, pinching his nose. "I sometimed wish I could stil lbe half as innocent as I used to be." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If you mean more like me," Drez looked at her with defiance, "Then I'd have to wonder who would explain these things to me when they happen." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira laughed when the youwarkee said that. "No, Drez...I knew a few things about these sorts of things before I ran away from home. After all, I'm the one who taught you how to kiss, didn't I?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee grinned at the memory. It'd been forever since he'd thought of before Kira had gone missing. Perhaps it was for the best that she had left in some bizarre way, but she was here now and she was his. What more could a boy want? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled as she leaned into the youwarkee's chest. "I just...wish it could have...worked out differently...that we could have been an actual couple; two people who got together normally....not..." The dragoness laughed slightly. "Not like this; a Legend Keeper finding his long lost best friend in a brothel working as a harlot to pay off her debt." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Not like this?" inquired the youwarkee with a grin, "If anything, Kira, you should know that nothing about being a youwarkee or knowing a youwarkee is ever normal." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The way my life turned out has nothing to do with you," Kira said, brow arched. "Had it not been for Malise, things would have worked out the way I dreamed it would." The dragoness had a wistfulness about her as she sighed. "I can't help but wonder how it would have turned out..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm sure that a youwarkee had a hand in it someway," answered Drez with a shrug, "But...either way, I know that there's never been a match in my family that's not been...well, abnormal, I suppose..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled at Drez fondly, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe it's jsut wishful thinking when it comes to normal for me then, but...I just wish things could have turned out differently." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled at Drez fondly, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe it's jsut wishful thinking when it comes to normal for me then, but...I just wish things could have turned out differently." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee grinned at her for a moment, "As long as you're alive and with me, Kira, nothing could be more perfect." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira looked at Drez, bemused by how blissful he was just at her mere presence. "Am I really that important to you?" she purred, leaning in to nip his earlobe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Of course," answered Drez with a growl, "You have always been so very important." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness sighed softly, burying her face into the youwarkee's shoulder. "I didn't think anyone would be interested in a harlot, Drez. How can you still want me, knowing what I am?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Because I know what you really are, Kira," answered Drez with a grin, "After all, you weren't always what you say and you don't have to be now." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You really don't care about...any of it, do you?" Kira asked softly. She looked up at him, wiping her eyes as she smiled. "Tainted, wounded...no longer innocent or naive. I was a plaything for all." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well," answered Drez as he shifted a little, resting his head on Sancho's saddle, "I know we can't go back and change any of it now. I'm okay with that. Afterall, I have you now and that's all that really matters to me, Kira." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness smiled a little wider, giving the youwarkee a loving squeeze. "You're such a sweetheart." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So I'm told," answered Drez with a chuckle, "Now let's get some rest. It's all ready late and we have quite a journey ahead of us if we want to get back home." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira nodded her head, following suite as Drez laid down near to fire. She snuggled into him a little shyly. She'd never had a lover just for the pleasure of it before. This would be something she'd have to get used to. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- His arm curled about her waist, tucking her against much like a child would clutch a teddy bear. "Goodnight, Assai," he yawned before kissing her ear. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira purred in content, sighing with a soft sense of security as she drifted off to sleep in the youwarkee's arms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning awoke the dragoness to the sound of sizzling breakfast and bird calls. If anything, the youwarkee was definitely an early riser, for the most part. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira stretched out her arms, moving as a cat would as she yawned. She glanced over at Drez, who was busily working with the fire. "Rayne must of trained you to wake up the same time every day," she mused. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually," grinned the youwarkee, "It's my wings. If I awake before they return, it's not as painful or likely to destroy whatever is in their way. Hungry for breakfast yet?" He raised the skillet of scrambled eggs for a moment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled in amusement, nodding her head to affirm the youwarkee's question. "Famished." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Drez put the dishes away, he looked up at the sun. It was nearly over the horizon now. They would make good time back to the inn, but Sancho was not happy to be carrying two instead of his normal one passenger. His snorting and pawing only accented that. Kimbree, the horse he'd brought to carry their goods, would have been a wonderful alternative if he'd not packed as much as he had. "I think Sancho is a bit unhappy with carrying both of us," he commented. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira had laid her head upon Drez's shoulder as they traveled through the landscape, her eyes closed serenely. The pendant was warm against her chest, and she was thinking about it when the youwarkee suddenly spoke, breaking her from her thoughts. "I'm not that heavy am I?" |
| Sancho snorted his answer, stomping the ground as he continued on. "Oh, all right, fine. have it your way, Sancho," the youwarkee slid down from the saddle and took the reigns, "Stubborn mule." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira watched Drez get down, brow arched. "Is he always this spoiled?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Like his sire," grinned the youwarkee as he rubbed the horse's neck affectionately, "He's quite the brat sometimes." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled wryly, shaking her head. "Do Youwarkees always treat their horses like their own children?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I have every doubt that I'd treat my children like Sancho," answered the youwarkee with a laugh, "Especially with the whole bit, bridle and saddle getup!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I didn't mean that literally, you know," Kira answered. "Other than that, you treat Sancho like a child." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "More like a brother," smiled the youwarkee as he tugged the reigns, "He has, after all, been with me for most of my life. Mother gave him to me when he was still a colt. I had to train him myself and he's as stubborn as ever." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I still think youwarkees treat their horses like children somewhat," Kira replied, smiling thoughtfully. "Or something like a best friend." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez shrugged at that, "Growing up with Mother, you'd think he was." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira leaned over a bit, swatting at Drez playfully. "But I'm your favorite person, aren't I?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Above all else, Assai," grinned the youwarkee as he caught one hand and kissed her palm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira glowed in those moments with her own contentment, pulling the youwarkee closer to her so she could kiss him briefly. "When can I get off Sancho so I can get on you?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee puzzled at this, looking at Kira curiously, "Get on me? I'm not much for a pack horse, Kira." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled, bemused by the youwarkee's innocence. "I think you're taking my words a little too literally, Drez. The only way I would ride you is if I mounted your engorged, sexual organ." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I...don't think I follow," Drez puzzled, nearly forgetting to duck a low tree branch in the process. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira laughed, she couldn't help it. "Drez, I'm talking about making babies. You know...sex...intercourse....the phallus entering..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "You're going to be so tainted by the time I'm through with you...It's nearly a shame." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee's face grew red, "Um....there's a lot of ground to cover before we're home, Kira...ah...." he stammered, "We'd...um...better pick up the pace if we want to get there before...er.... Mother worries.... ?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira giggled, shaking her head once more. "By 'get on you', I didn't mean that, Drez. I meant sitting in your lap." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I said the only way I'd ride you, is if we did that." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee cleared his throat but said nothing. He never imagined Kira would tell him such things. Gods forbid his mother ever found out about any of this! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sighed softly, wondering what a union with a boy so innocent would truly be like. It was kind of funny how she couldn't even speak of such things without him not understand what she was talking about. "I can't help but wonder how innocent you'll remain with someone like me around." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee shrugged, managing a somewhat quick answer, "Never the sharpest tool in the shed." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness sighed once more, staring at Drez thoughtfully. "Not much for that sort of talk, obviously." She paused momentarily, looking ahead of her toward the path. "How much longer before we settle down for the night?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee looked up to see the sun's position overhead, "It's a few hours past noon....there's still plenty of light. Are you tired?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira shrugged. "No...just don't know what to talk about, and I don't want to sit here silently." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee smiled, "Do you remember what we used to talk about, Kira? When I was studying the scrolls with Mother over the years, that's the only thing that kept me from falling asleep. I don't know how Mother can study thoses dusty papers for so long without even yawning." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira pondered it for a moment, biting the inside of her lip as she thought about it. "Do you remember, Drez? I don't think I do." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There were so many topics," sighed the youwarkee blissfully, "I mean...I didn't know most of the answers to them, but they were all fascinating. We'd talk about things like our futures and whether Little Rose would ever grow up or if Darrin would beat the Twins...." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira sighed softly, biting her lip as Drez mentioned her family. "There's not a whole lot we can wonder about now though..." The dragoness remembered that Malise had gotten to her family...but Rio's family had disappeared before the demoness had gotten to their home. Kira still didn't know where they were, or even if they still lived, or whether or not any of her family lived. This much, she was sure of. Darrin, the twins, and her parents at least were gone. Kira looked away for a moment. "I'm not sure I really want to think about that, Drez..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee sighed, "It hasn't been easy with Mother worrying about Rio and her family." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness was silent, unsure of what to say to that. She hoped they were well, at least. She hoped Rose faired well. She wondered if the dragonian protested in leaving, or was even looking for her. It was something that had always laid heavily upon Kira's mind. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You're thinking about Rose...aren't you?" inquired Drez as he glanced up at the dragoness, "I'm sure Mother will have told them about this and they'll be at the inn when we get there." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "How do you know that? You said Rayne was worried about them...How would she know where they are to even contact them?" Kira inquired, thought she didn't look at him. Her eyes seemed far away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mother knows where they are," answered the youwarkee with a shrug. He glanced up at her for a moment, "But she's worried because she can't go where they are. There deep in dragon country and Siki and Lacii aren't exactly welcome in all parts of that territory...." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I suppose they went back close to where my mother originally met Rio..." Kira replied, thinking upon it quietly. "I hope they're alright." |
| "They should be," Drez puzzled, "But it's dangerous territory for anyone that's not a dragon." He frowned for a moment in thought, "Probably almost as bad for those that are too.." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira bit the inside of her lip as she looked upon the horizon, her eyelids drooping to a half close. "Drez, do you think any of my family is still alive?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I know that Fritz is still alive," suggest the youwarkee without a moment's hesitation, "He's looking after my sister, Rayzel now." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Of course," Kira said. "He wasn't there when it all happened." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee puzzled over this, "I don't know really...Mother was gone for a few weeks some years back. I'm guessing about the time this all happened. She may have spirited one or two..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Viveka," Kira whispered. "She was just a toddler." The dragoness sighed softly. "I'm pretty sure everyone else is gone." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee sighed, "I wouldn't be the one to ask, Kira. Mother should know about these things." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira fell silent once more, thinking upon whether or not Rayne would have done that. Her mother had always been so stubborn about everything, even this. At the time Malise awoke, her mother had not run away... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez wondered if the baby dragoness had been spirited away with Rio's family. It would have made sense, in a way. Rayne had taken sometime off alone, without even his father in her way about the time everything had happened. It would have been no surprise if she'd snuck the child out and given her to Aunt Rio to take care of. After all, Aunt Rio was a wonderful--if indulgent--mother. "I'll bet we'll find out once we get home," sighed Drez wistfully. He really wanted to know now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness didn't reply, since she had nothing to say. Her thoughts weighed heavily upon Viveka and Rose, not to mention the rest of Rio's family. She wondered if Fritz had seen all of this coming. Usually, he would have come home if something was happening...Then again, his life would have been forfeit if he had. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The day ended with both of them pondering about who had survived and how. Drez nearly burned himself as he made dinner for them. He growled for a moment, shaking his head. There were somethings that just couldn't--or shouldn't--be done when distracted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira fiddled with the pendant that rested on her chest idly, staring off in the distance as she thought about what life would be like now. She wasn't sure if she could ever get used to living "normally" again. She would have to see, she supposed. A soft sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes, still thinking upon her baby sister. Had Rio taken her? If so, did that mean the dragonian would raise her now?Kira wasn't sure herself...perhaps she would end up doing so. Of course, the dragoness couldn't see herself raising any sport of child. She didn't know the first thing about such things! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Finally handing Kira her meal, Drez settled down next to her with a sigh, "Remind me never to cook while thinking about something too hard," he grumbled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled at him wearily and sighed. "Sorry to have brought it up." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's not your fault," grinned the youwarkee before quickly kissing her cheek, "Mother always told me not to get distracted while cooking." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness nodded silently, unsure of what to say in those moments. She felt sort of out of place. "Are you sure that this is what you want, Drez?" she asked after a pause. "I'm not who I used to be, you know. I'm different than when we were children..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't expect you to be the same," answered the youwarkee with a stubborn note in his voice, "I just want you with me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Why?" Kira mused aloud. "You don't even really know me anymore, Drez...How can you say you love who I am now?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Nothing could make me not love you," insisted Drez quietly, "I doubt I could ever see it otherwise." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira watched him as he set up their plates, a little bit baffled by how set he was on keeping her with him. People changed...love faded, and things never stay the same. She wondered if the youwarkee had ever taken such a thing into consideration. The dragoness thought she still loved him; perhaps a little too much. Maybe she was just needy though. She figured only time could tell, but she felt very safe here, sitting by the fire with someone willing to risk their very life for her. Gods, it felt a little unreal. She took her plate, eating what she wanted and then setting it aside. "What makes you so sure that I'm the kind of person you want tied to you?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I don't answered the youwarkee with a shrug, "I'm willing to chance it all for love." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira shook her head, almost uncomprehending. Drez was so innocent and hopeful; he would do anything when it came to what he believed in. The dragoness scooted over to him quietly, watching him intenting with her carmine gaze. "Is that all you really care about?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee kissing her forehead and gave her a quick squeeze, "I care about a lot of things, Kira. But that doesn't mean I care any less about you." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "That's not exactly what I meant," Kira murmured. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez took the dirty dishes away, leaving the few that still had food as he went. "I want you to be free and happy, Kira. I want you in my life, no matter how different you are. And..." he sighed and shook his head, "I suppose I'm just hoping that might just want me in your life again." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Why would I want you in my life, Drez? That's silly," Kira replied, smiling thoughtfully. "I just can't help but wonder...why you're still set on having me when...when things are different. It's not like you're bound to me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee glanced at her a sardonic grin on his face for just a moment, "I'm as stubborn as my parents, Kira. That should be reason enough!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira gave a wry smirk. "You're silly, Drez. I wonder if anyone would be half as stubborn as you about something like this." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Father, if I understand it right," mused the youwarkee for a moment, "I think he said it took him ten years to convince Mother to marry him..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness arched a brow as she watched him. "You wouldn't do that, would you?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee shrugged, "I don't know...would you?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I suppose it depends on the situation, really," Kira sighed, staring off in the distance. "How far would anyone go for the one they thought they'd spend the rest of their life with?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee smiled at that. He knew the answer--for his kind, anyway. The ends of the realm weren't far enough. Perhaps Kira would never know that... Shaking it off mentally, Drez set up the tent he'd brought and looked back at Kira. She was still staring up into the sky. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dragoness couldn't help but wonder what things would be like now. Everything had changed for her, after all. Her mind kept wandering back to the question continuously. It was one thing she wasn't sure about. What did Drez expect of her, after all? Did he really want to spend the rest of his life with her? Kira glanced over at him, catching him staring at her. She arched a brow, blushing slightly. "What?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee shrugged, "Just looking at the most beautiful and precious woman in my life," he sighed before turning back to what he was doing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira smiled a bit at that, shaking her head to try to get the blush from her face. "You're completely enamored, aren't you?" |
| "No," Drez grinned to himself, "I'm more than just completely enamoured. I can't think of anything more deep...more true than loving you, Assai..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira was dumbfounded by the depths of the youwarkee's feelings. "Why me?" she asked more to herself than to Drez. "There's a million others out there...So why did it have to be me?" She looked up at him again, seeing the way he was looking at her. "There could have been Rose, or anyone else. I'm not sure what it is that's so special that you see in me, Drez." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The youwarkee puzzled over that for a moment, "Maybe because I'll always see Rose as a little sister." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira chuckled softly, the entire thing lost to her. "I suppose we should get ready to rest, hm?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drez wondered what was so funny about it but shrugged it off as he lifted the tent flap up to allow Kira inside. "...Um..." he blushed for a moment, realizing he'd forgotten to grab to tents when he was at home, "Do you want me to sleep outside?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kira looked at him, brows arched as if that was the silliest question she'd ever been asked. "Now why would you have to do that?" She took his hand into her own and pulled him closer. "I've had countless people in my bed, Drez....but if there was anyone I actually wouldn't mind having there...obviously, it would be you." [Now begins the tale] |
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