Kasey stared at the deceiving form of the young boy. Though she was well aware that he was far older than her, she felt a pull towards him, wanting to protect him. His age didn't coincide with his actions, not all the time anyway. Shobek stared deep into Kasey's eyes as if reading her like a book. He hissed and jerked his chin back to where she had previously been when practicing. "Get back to work."
My body was exhausted by the time Shobek let me rest. It had been a few hours since I started and I was ready to quit. Shobek sat on his rock with his eyes close. Meditating I suppose. I plopped down on the ground taking deep breaths to steady my heartbeat. I stared aimlessly at the expansive room around me, my thoughts drifting back to what I had done. Nausea starting rippling through me, my eyes slowly looking down at my hands that rested on my knees. I could almost feel the handle in my hand again. The ease of pushing its pointed end into— I quickly shot to my feet and gulped down a big breath of air in order to settle myself a little. I was going to throw up if I didn't focus on something else. "W..what's next..?" I couldn't stop the tremble in my voice. I looked at Shobek as he flinched as if he was caught sleeping and jolted awake again. He slowly peeked an eye at me and scowled.
As if picking up what my issue was he slowly turned his full gaze on me. "I suppose I should train you in the act of murder. You clearly can't hold down the thought of slaughtering your own mother." He slowly stood, his wings flaring out slightly as his tail swished behind him. The sudden feeling of uncontrolled anger brushing up against my senses, "what is it that is throwing you off?"
Instinctively I took a small step back, his eyes carefully scouring every inch of my figure; as if looking for the answer on my skin. He jumped down from his rock, and though his figure was smaller than mine, his aura alone made me feel like a tiny insect. This...was the dragon I have sensed. This is what had struck fear into my mind over and over when his mood shifts. The full power behind that gaze would have killed me thousands of times if looks could kill.
His temper was unchecked. Whatever he had meditated on, had left him raw. As if he had left a zoo animal's cage opened. His slow steps made his words colder, scarier; "Is it the fact that you stabbed her? Is it because you felt that small twinge of pleasure while that knife slid through her flesh?"
I took a few steps back, my skin becoming clammy as I questioned his words. Did I find it pleasing...? ...No. No, that's absurd. I could never enjoy that. It wasn't right—
"Let me guess... It's absurd that you would find pleasure in committing a bloody act against your own mother; inhumane, maybe?" His steps grew faster as mine only helped me stumble back.
"You're wrong...!" I tried not to cringe as I heard my voice trembling again, my legs becoming jello. Whatever he had kept in that locked cage was now free because I interrupted him.
"Just admit it, stupid girl!" His voice became like a deep growl, scales slowly forming on his cheeks, claws slowly mystifying on his fingers as he started to morph. "Just admit that you enjoyed it! You just can't stand the fact that it was your own mother! After all, she had sacrificed everything for you! She loved you with all her soul! But you feel it, don't you? The strange darkness that has threatened your sanity day in and day out. Do you want to know what it is?"
I fell back and scrambled away as he changed into a dragon, "stop! J...Just calm down..! It....It's not true!!"
His eyes became dark and his wings flared out as he let out an inhuman roar, darkness was slithering over his scales and I swallowed back my fear as I started to notice the tendrils of darkness wrapping around his legs and neck. They were like chains. Chains of pure black. The weight of that void seemed to pull at the dragon. Shobek was still, his chest heaving as his anger rolled around him. This is what was really hidden behind that child facade. The power around him pulsed, ancient magic smothering my senses. It was starting to suffocate me. This inhuman thing was going to kill me just by standing near me. This was a god made of wishes. One that humans managed to anger.
Those chains held him fast in place and started to make sense as I struggled to stay standing before this raw power. The reason why he is here dawning like a new day. If this thing was ever free, it would destroy the whole planet. Obliterate it into ash.
A chill suddenly drained all warmth from my body.
I had made a deal with THIS power. THIS is what pulsed through me.
If this power wasn't what ruled the underworld, what the hell kind of power does the king have?
It didn't take long to realize that I didn't want to know.