me, how do those things feel now? Do they protect you? You see, I will. I will protect those women, every woman who has been hurt. Hurt by men like you who think they are nothing more than a fucking uterus, nothing more than something weaker than them. We are stronger than you will ever know, not always physically, but mentally? Fuck yes, we put up with assholes like you and rise above it. Every day, women out there pick up their pieces from cheating spouses and abusive partners, neglecting people they trust. Women are the strongest thing on this planet, and you will all see that soon. They will see that. For I am the monster who fights for them, for those who can’t, and you? You are simply a weak little man, therefore in your logic, I can hurt you.”
He shakes his head mutely.
“Nothing to say? Guess you aren’t that smart after all,” I purr.
Tired of this game, I end it. Something stretches inside me, something calling for me to use it, to be let out, so I do. I watch curiously as purple mist flows towards the man from my mouth, wrapping around him. He screams and fights beneath me and then suddenly stops, his strings cut. The purple rises from his body, something bright and swirling held within it.
Is-Is that his soul?
It stays there for a moment, and then it’s gone, as is the purple magic. What the hell was that?
I fall back, breathing heavily as the change recedes. Maybe Amos was right, maybe I am stronger than I know, with things hiding inside me. What else am I capable of? No. No, he’s wrong. I can control it...right?
Looking around, I get to my feet and leave the lab, heading into the hallway on bare feet. Amos must know by now, and I doubt he thinks I’m dead. Fine. He wants this to be over? I will end this.
First things first, I need to free my monsters.
I follow the...demon…outside and we stop at the base of the mountain as he tips his head back and grins, sucking in air. “How are we getting there?” I snap, interrupting his moment.
His dark eyes turn to me, and even I feel fear looking into them. It’s like staring at death. The dark abyss of his gaze is so empty and cold, that loneliness, hate, and fear flow through me just from a glance.
“Hop, of course. I couldn’t do it inside, but I can beyond the boundaries.”
“Hop?” I repeat, confused, and then look down at my legs, wondering how only using one will get us there faster.
“This is going to get annoying. Hop, dragon.” His voice grows louder at the end, as if I wasn’t supposed to hear the first part. “As in hop across time and space.”
“Ah, well, I drove here and I need the treasures from my car.” I huff.
“Driving...you want me to drive with you?” He seems to be searching his mind for what that is and then his eyes lock back on me. “You came to the sleeping court to fetch someone to...drive us back? Are you a chauffeur?”
Growling, I let my power raise and he waves it away. “Fine, let us hop to my car, and I can call someone to collect it. I can’t just leave it, it has everything for my mate.”
That gets his attention and he sighs. “Fine, then we hop to the council.”
He doesn’t warn me before black smoke encases me. I snarl as the world seems to spin and my ears ring. I have the sense of movement, but I can’t see anything. Finally, the smoke retracts and I look around in shock to see we are next to my car. The snake is leaning against it, watching me impatiently.
“Come on, dragon, I have things to do. Slow me down and I will leave you here for Xaph to kill,” he snaps.
“He could try.” I sniff, making him laugh.
“Maybe I won’t leave you, you’re funny,” he remarks.
Ignoring him, I get into the driver’s seat and grab my phone, dialling Jean Paul’s number. Just as he is answering, I let out a less than dragonly scream as the snake pops into existence in my passenger seat.
“Sir?” Jean Paul panics.
Glaring at the laughing man, I turn back to the conversation, clearing my throat and lowering my voice. “Sorry, I am here.”
“Smooth,” the snake scoffs.
“Can you please pick up my vehicle from the location on this device and bring it to the city?