Conquest Of The Fallen: Dark Dominions

Chapter 77: The Red Dragon

THE TEMPERATURE RISE came with twilight. "I did not think weather to be this dynamic on Corynthia. Islands are usually tropical all year round," said Rafel stroking his nurse's cool platinum hair. He was feeling much better after her delicious serve.

"The isles are rumored to be the only spot in the continent where Demeter's unfeeling coldness for humanity doesn't reach. In order words, we do not miss winter here. But you're right, the island's air is always tame—or should be. Huh?" Sekhmet fell silent for a moment, thinking.

Rafel had pulled the blanket off their bodies and he could feel the rising warmth of Sekhmet's body spreading into his. The door to the huge cabin was open, and kept that way with a long mop stick. The fireplace only had embers now smoking in the pits and Rafel was glad: he didn't need added heat to his breaking fever.

Just outside the oak door, a great dire wolf lay on all fours, like some guardian of the forest. It was quiet too, watching the creek some distance beyond with blinking grey eyes.

"That your dog?" Rafel hushed in Sekhmet's hair.

Her cheeks flushed under his gaze. "Yep. All anima in the tropics are bonded to the high witch."

"Hmm, I took you for a cat woman."

"Why?"

Rafel grinned—"cause when I see you, I THINK. . .pussy," she smacked his chest. "Aren't you glad you're topless now?"

Sekhmet finally laughed, noting that the pinkened rosebud tops of her boobs were still pebbled. "Quit trying to make me laugh. There are many shades to you, Apollyon."

Outside, the blue [Guardian] wolf lifted up its great head and howled.

YOOOOOOWWL!

The sound stunned both Rafel and his supple witch nurse to look out. Their eyes' trained on the foliage running up the cottage's clearing into the stone bridge—just as a mighty shadow crossed over it. It blotted out the pouring moonlight, and in the brief umbra, Rafel made out the shape of bat wings and a massive spiked head. The wolf was still howling.

He stole a glance from the open door to peer back at Sekhmet. She jerked off the bed with a start.

"Dragon!"

She ranted as she hopped off the spring bed and grabbed her tossed shirt.

"—that explains the sudden heat wave. Shit! How did I miss all the signs? The beast must be a rover from Titans Landing, sent to patrol the Cold Sea. To search. .

.for you." She turned back to Rafel, and all of her pupils went bloodred. "But I'll be damned back the Lazarus pits before I let the Usurper have a chance to finish what he started. Stay here!" She commanded.

But Rafel was stretching up to a seating position before she ever left the door.

"Like hell I will!"

He found a cane a foot away by the bedside. He tried to reach it. It hurt as a motherfucker.

"Fuck. That won't do."

"System!" He grunted. "Purchase a rolling chair for mystic cripples from the Arcane Shop. Quickly please."

[Ding!], came the vibrating feedback.

[Wheelchair Automaton purchased!]

[COST: 200 000 Soul Coins.

LEVEL: Hallowed.

DEITY: Hephaestus.

Host had received reward of +300 HEALTH points.]

"That expensive, huh?" Rafel whipped out the opal, gleaming chair from his Hell pocket dimension. He would need to work on gaining more soul coins as soon as he was able. The wheelchair was a boss seat on exquisite black wheels. The chair itself was soft white gold. It was so catchy to the eyes. And when Rafel struggled from the bed into it, he sighed and marveled at the buoyancy.

The exuberant cost made sense now; the forger god didn't make shit.

He sat easily and comfortably in the [Automaton] which was moved about by only a trickle spend of his mana core. Luckily, his illness had not diminished his demonic output. Red strings of energy interwove into the wheelchair and propelled forward the wheels. Rafel controlled it's direction with his mind.

He drove out the cabin's high door and took the path he had seen Sekhmet run off to, the blue wolf hot on her heels.

He found her by a marsh northward of the creek.

The sounds of running water filled his ears as he drew near. He jerked on the Automaton to an abrupt halt, gaping at the sight before him.

Sekhmet's hands were lifted high in the air. Her white hair glowed with a fierce brilliance, whipping under silver moonlight. By telekinesis, she had dark vines shooting out from the swampy earth and curling strongly around fire red limbs of a dragon. The beast itself was larger than the cabin he left behind; Sekhmet was tiny before it, still, she struggled to tame it under her twines.

She reminded him briefly of Cora breaking a wild mustang. Rafel shook the memory loose.

"STOP!" He put the necessary authority in his voice.

Both dragon and witch turned to him, at the same time.

"My Lord Apollyon?" Sekhmet gasped in seeing him. She did not bring her hands down. "You should be in bed. Trust me, I can handle this creature who's trespassed."

The dragon struggled against her reins, beating its scaly bat wings, trying to break free. It was stopped from hurling fire out its mouth by multiple vines wrapped tight around it's elegant snout. The scales on the long, crocodilian back were scarlet red. The creature was mythically wondrous; the famed red Dragon.

A beast so in control of the element of fire that the temperature of an entire island had swelled in response to its own body heat.

How wonderful? Rafel thought like a Sorcerer in an experiment.

The dragon shrieked against the grappling vines, which were wrapping tighter around its crimson magnificent body by the second. As moving tendrils, they crept up it's back, breaking the fiery resilience the beasts were know for: like a python with a struggling goat.

"Let it go," Rafel pronounced loudly to Sekhmet.

He made it plain that it was an order.

She sighed, puffed out air through her nose that blew the strands of silver hair in her eyes, but she dropped her hands. The vines slowly crept off.

The red dragon shook greatly in the air.

For a moment, it seemed like it would pour out fire, but then the burning ball of orange visible in it's long, serrated throat dimmed and purged away. Rafel did not think the beast was an enemy. He was right. The dragon dropped its tail to the top branch of a nearby palm and lowered its snout to the ground. Rafel noticed the eyes: one was marine; one was green.

"Her!" The red dragon spoke proudly.

"What?"

"Pardon?"

Rafel and Sekhmet uttered at the same time. The fact that the creature could talk meant it was very high up in the beast system. Only true [Epic] beasts like Sphinxes, Totem Bears, and few dragons could talk; the others just breathed fire and stomped around. But not this one.

"What do you mean 'HER'?" Sekhmet questioned.

The dragon licked at a talon. "I MEAN I AM A SHE. You said earlier, 'let it go', you should've said 'let her go'."

Sekhmet scoffed. "Really? That's your fucking worry—gender assign?"

"It's alright," said Rafel: a voice of reason. "She is a mystical body. I understand where she's coming from. I am a Titan in my true form; some might call me it when they see me in that nature." He nodded to the red dragon and detected something of a smile on her snout. "Go on, tell us! Who are you?"

The red dragon folded her legs under her, and took what could only be described as a creature's bow of obeisance. Behind, the blue [Guardian] wolf pestered her forked tail. She ignored the animal.

"I am Myreen of Thrasos, my Prince.

I am bonded Familiar of Hèla Tirnanoc: goddess of death. Had my lady, Sekhmet here been so nice to let me speak first, I would have told the reason of my trespass." Her mismatched eyes darted to the high witch for a moment. Sekhmet blinked once in apology. The red dragon went on,

"The Fallen rule Eldoria. Her Eminence, Lilith heads the Court of Whispers. Lord Morningstar has his signet on every banner and letter from here to the western fronts of Rocasus. They had no hand in my mistress, Hèla saving your life. Nor have they any idea. Hèla wishes it to remain as such; for right now in Titans Landing, a city wide search had begun in the polis to comb out your hiding place.

Though Her Eminence, Lilith wishes to reunite with you for love and blessings, I doubt the others among the Fallen share her sentiments.

Last night, [Spectres] and we, Dragons were dispatched to rove the Cold Sea. Hèla got me in to keep an eye on this isle and ensure that the others stay clear off. If my Prince assents, I will keep watch while pretending to serve the interests of those that would see you hurt.

I am glad that you are doing well. I have heard many great stories about the Lioness of Ra, but you, my lady are one damn good nurse.

Do I have your permission, my Prince?" The dragon finished.

Rafel looked from his sleek mobile wheelchair to Sekhmet. "I mean it doesn't hurt to have a red dragon as a sentinel to the island?"

Sekhmet looked long at the crimson she-beast, and then smiled. "A friend of Hèla's is a friend of mine. My home, your home."

"Well there you go," said Rafel. "You have your answer; we would be honored to have you, Myreen of Thrasos."

"What's with the wolf?" The dragon shook the dog off her tail.

"I think he's horny," Sekhmet laughed.

"Well, he's not my type," replied Myreen.

Rafel and Sekhmet were still chuckling when she opened her great red wings and lifted into the hot air, bounding for the gray skies above the Cold Sea. The [Guardian] wolf whined and stared up. And in just moments of Myreen of Thrasos' flight, the tropical temperatures were restored. The heat wave passed.

Rafel smiled into the forest and let Sekhmet push him back to the cabin. His Automaton softly whirred in the silence.