Ruvāh, The podium of Gods, Year 203
Ayvah's POV:
I watched them kneel, the memories of when this was almost an everyday affair returned, but I willed my mind to steel, as I walked away.
Zenoing away from the boundaries of the podium, I watched as shadows gathered around us, cloaking us in the darkness. I felt a feline smirk grace my lips as I watched him leave, feeling his anxiousness to report everything to his queen even though he flew further away with every beat of his wings. The tether attached to his consciousness would make him a perfect little spy.
I turned towards the two of them, the ones who had answered the blood call, the ones who had always remained loyal and the ones who were my anchors. I felt the questions they longed to ask, yet refrained from doing so, respecting my need for silence as I watched them whisper furiously amongst themselves, there words no more than the sound of breeze groaning through the high oaks.
"We Leave. Now." Without waiting to hear their response, I summoned the shadows once more, bidding them to form the velvety darkness once more, as I felt it hardening into a being of the most beautiful of nightmares, a rush of utter bliss coursed through me. Settling on the back of the drâcaè, I let her have free reign as a pulse of power rippled across the podium, shaking it's very foundations.
"Mistress, it's been centuries since you last summoned me. I am glad that you didn't get a new drâcaè, for you know that the poor beast would be dead before you could say apple pie." The last line was accompanied with a snort, although I knew it to be true, for it was not often that a drâcaè chooses a master, much less a companion. And I also knew that Maeve,was extremely angry at me, for she addressed me as mistress and not with my chosen name.
"Maeve, you do know the circumstances in which I had to keep you hidden."
"Keep me hidden?" She flung herself across the cliff, falling till the very last moment before unfurling her wings. It was her way of scoffing at me. "You practically ordered me into exile while you, you walked away even though we could easily had defeated them. And to ma- why do you still have this pathetic disguise on!?"
So she definitely was in a bad mood.
And there was only one way to calm her down. "Apple pie. You do want some right? "
"Fine ughhh- you got me. Anything for apple pie."
It was funny enough that the most dangerous of monsters could be so easily pacified by apple pie, but the way she settled her scaly head in a way which clearly said- Rub me! was hilarious. I had no option but to comply to her hilarious demands, rubbing the velvety soft skin where her head was joined by a supple, snake like body with her web like wings sprouting from them. She was a creature of nightmares, terrifying in her frail-beauty. It was these spots on her body which were considered the most vulnerable, but what everyone forgot was that she was a creature of shadows, meant to be deceptive, to appear weak. That was the reason why during battles it was always these spots where the arrows were aimed at, instead of her thick scaly skin covering the rest of her body, and why it always failed to harm her.
She let out a small laugh as she heard my thoughts. Not many bonded with the drâcaè, instead opting for their fiercer looking but dull cousins, the dragons, assuming their strength based on their features. Feeling my thoughts drift towards the past, I put up a mental shield, allowing myself to feel nothing but the roaring wind on my face. Even Maeve fell quite after that.
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Bridlebur, Artamia, Year 13
Ayvah's POV:
I was greeted with silence when I entered the manor. The hallway seemed deserted, yet the atmosphere was charged with tension thick enough to be cut through with the dagger which I currently held.
Reaching for my scabbard, I pulled out my sword, the one which provided the ink for many pages of history to be written in blood, the one which was almost a myth now, the one which people called the shadow singer.
Clutching the sword in my hands, I summoned the innate darkness and set them to spin the illusion needed. Reaching my study, I found both of them seated across the desk, and sprawled languidly at their feet was the house cat that Cressida had grown so fond over the past few months.
And as usual they were in the midst of am argument, but I knew this time the subject of which would be I.
"Ayvah, so gracious of you to finally grace us with your graceful presence-"
" Cressida go ahead and call your drâcaè as well. And you too Cohen." A squeal of happiness was all the response I got as she rushed out to summon Grace. Cohen, though happy about the command was not satisfied with my answer. It was quite apparent in the way he eyed me before following Cressida. Stopping at the gates he knelt before addressing me, " Kraliçe, I am not one to question your command but I hope you know that everyone is now curious about whatever occurred today. The pulse of power was felt through the realms, and now our summoning would just alert them to our presence."
"Well Cohen, that's exactly what I want." Smirking at his confused expression, I stalked out of the study and into the sanctuary of my room.
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California, North America, Year 2020
Ayvah's POV:
"Ma'am, the board of directors are requesting your presence. They want to discuss the implications of Mr. Calloway's impromptu trip." The quivering voice of my secretary came through the intercom, rousing me from my thoughts.
Letting out a sigh, I walked towards the conference room, my heels beating a steady tattoo against the marble floor as I kept my features a smooth mask of disinterest.
Nodding at the greetings murmured at my stead, I sat at the head of the table waiting for them to start.
"Ma'am, it has come to our notice that Mr. Calloway has apparently taken a leave and, and-"
His tone was hesitant enough for me to guess what he was about to say.
"And?"
"And ma'am it happened after he- you both-"
" We both what? Mr. Gursey as you can see I do not have the entire day to waste on such basal topics." I willed my tone to take on a harsh lilt as I spoke the last sentence and my eyes to flash with impatience though it barely affected me, when I already knew the reason for this meeting.
"He means to say Ms. Monroe, that Mr. Calloway took a leave exactly after he pointed out your mistakes." The coarse tone of Mr. Leopald grated on my ears as he tried yet failed to conceal the disgust he felt at having to address a female as his senior.
"First of all if you all plan to accuse me of something it would be better to know the entire truth before accosting me. The only reason why I am seated at the head of this table and you all are not is the sole fact that you do not bother checking your facts before speaking. He tried to point out my non-existent mistakes which was easily proved that very moment. And secondly, if I bothered to deal with every person who tries to create hurdles in my path you all wouldn't be seated here. Try not to waste my time on such menial matters, now will you."
Rising from my seat , I stalked towards the door making sure assume a prowling gait, ever the raging prodigy.
Leaning against the door, I turned towards them letting amusement seep through my tone, " Do not assume that I don't know about your little, should I call them, plots to dethrone the ice queen. Ain't I right Mr. Leopald?" Letting a small chortle break through my facade upon seeing the horrified expression on each of their faces, I staked away from the meeting room.
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Drâcaè- Serpent like creatures with beautiful web-like wings. They are wild creatures able to choose their masters. The prowess over an element depends on the person they bond with. Though a majority do not choose the gracious beings, often mistaking their feline beauty and gracious wit for weakness.