11- Downfall
#16 of The Legend of Rift Book III: Downfall
Warning: This chapter may be uncomfortable to some readers.
Rift clenched his eyes shut as the dungeon door opened, exposing light he had not seen in days. He couldn't help but whimper as Carmine stomped over and slammed his tail into the face of the orange dragon.
The red drake watched the younger drake collapse limply. Weeks had passed since he first got his paws on the Fire Guardian, and now his interest had run out. Rift didn't fight, making his assaults seem unproductive.
He gave a wave out the door and some Panthers came in, grabbing ahold of the Guardian, and dragging him away. Carmine snorted as he looked over his former enemy. The orange dragon seemed nothing like the one that always bested him. This dragon was covered in dark grime, scales pale, only stubs for horns, and very scrawny. The drake even now had been too stubborn to accept any food, spending his time curled up in a ball.
Carmine smiled as he knew eventually, the Fire Guardian would break.
A loud trumpet arose Kara and Sithris from their slumber. The noise had been becoming more and more frequent, each one telling them of another small group of dragons that were seeking refuge from the Mad Queen. Kara got up and stepped out to talk to the new arrivals.
Sithris released a defeated sigh, part of him hoping that Rift was able to escape. He felt incomplete. He still had Kara and Neala, but his relationship with Rift was unlike any other.
He had found the dragon mere moments from death, saving him from beheading by ape. He nursed the orange drake back to health, followed him through good and bad to resurrect Kara. He and Rift had been through things he'd once thought impossible, and they had happily accepted each other as mates with Kara.
He slowly pushed himself up as Kara walked in, and Silvus came out of the room he and Kardia were staying in. Neala quickly popped out of her room too. Sithris sighed, walking up to Silvus and Kara. "Can I please go to the cave for a bit, I'm going crazing staying here all day."
Kara and Silvus looked at each other in concern and worry. Sithris had proven time and again he was willing to put his life on the line to try and rescue Rift. Kara went wide eyed as an idea formed in her head. "You may on the condition Neala goes with you."
Sithris froze for a minute before nodding slowly. Kara knew he wouldn't risk his daughter's safety. He picked up the hatchling and placed her on his head. "We'll be back later."
Rift shivered as the last of the grime was scraped away. Moles were bathing him for some reason beyond what he knew. He felt nauseous as he looked at his reflection. Busted horns, pale orange scales, and most of his muscles gone. He now was thinner than Sithris. He put a paw near his eye, looking at the scar. It was dark, deep enough that it would be obvious for the rest of his life. However long that is... He thought sadly.
Once he was finally clean, a panther came in for him holding a leash. The orange dragon winced, looking down at the dark crystal embedded collar around his neck. He had no access to his element, and it also sapped all his physical energy. He could only hang his head in defeat as the leash was attached, and he was walked out of the room.
He was escorted into the throne room, where he was left sitting in front of the Queen. Shara slowly stood up and circled him. Once she completed her inspection, she gave him a sniff before sitting back on her throne.
"Seems these few weeks have put a number on you Guardian." She smiled as the drake shivered. "The mighty Guardian of Fire, reduced to a hornless, scale and bone lizard. Though, I've heard that was your choice, even when we gave you the best food, you wouldn't eat."
Shara chuckled and whispered in his ear. "Such a shame. I can make it all better. No more hunger, no more pain, being the strong dragon you were meant to be. I'd say big, but I can't change you being short." An irritated huff from the drake is all she got back.
The turquoise dragoness rolled her eyes. "Observe, stubborn drake." With the wave of her paw, dark magic began to swirl, producing an image of a familiar place. Rift's cave and lake. "We have a large number of Panthers set here for any of your family should they arrive. They are the same ones that helped Carmine capture you and Sithris. Once someone arrives, they will await my order to execute them before they have a chance to realize it."
The fire drake faltered quickly. "You can't do that. They've done nothing wrong!" His eyes widened even more in horror as he could make out Sithris and Neala nearing the cave. "Nonononono, stay back. Sithy, Neala, stay away from there!"
Shara laughed. "They can't hear you, silly derg. I want to make you a deal. They will be spared, but you are to submit to me. Not just that, but I want you."
Rift shivered at the thought as she continued on. "I told you before that I knew your father. I was a hatchling then, but I wanted him. I was devastated when I learned of his passing, but I knew his son would be even better. Serve as my mate, and I promise you no harm will come to any of them."
The fire drake glared daggers, certain she was lying. He looked back at the cave, whimpering as he watched his mate and daughter walk in, not knowing of the Panthers creeping in. He looked into Shara'a eyes, heart breaking as he knew she was happy to kill them.
"I'll give you a few minutes Rift. Please take into consideration that if I give the order, they will not have a chance to fight."
Sithris couldn't resist a small sigh of content as he looked around the cave. He looked at Neala and tilted his head, curious as she pulled out a small wooden box. "What do you have there sweetie?"
Neala slowly pulled it over to him, smiling as he laid down, and she snuggled against him. Finally, she responded. "Daddy Rifty had this made for you. It was supposed to be for your hatch day last week."
A twinge of pain hit his heart. That bloody pest, always trying to make hatch days special. He stared at the box for a few minutes, unsure if he wanted to know. He couldn't resist any longer, lifting the lid.
"Dear Ancestors..."
Sparkling silver goggles sat in the velvet lined box, with a stunning blue glass covering the eyes. Sithris pulled his own off, finding they were a close match. The only differences being his were bronze with green glass. The goggles had been his very first invention, rarely ever taking them off. They were like a part of him. But seeing the new ones made him think.
Slowly, he picked up the new goggles and placed them atop his head, cooing as it fit perfectly. I will wear these for as long as it takes to bring him home...
"Your time is up Rift. What will it be?" Shara looked at him in curiosity. She grinned as she saw the drake in full on conflict with himself. Tears rolled down his face as he tried to determine the best option. I've almost got him.
A murmur from the drake caught her attention. She lowered her head near his, waiting for him to repeat himself. He obliged.
"Burn in hell."
Perfect. Shara chuckled and her eyes flashed a glowing purple. "Panthers, I'm allowing you to proceed, Kill them." She grinned as this finally got the response she wanted.
"Wait!" Rift begged. He trembled and clenched his eyes, his soul begging him not to do it. "I'll do it... I'll surrender myself to you. Just let them go..." His mind was in shambles. He couldn't let his mate and daughter die, but he was also giving up the life he knew.
The Queen smiled and nodded. "Very well Rift. You will address me as Your Queen, understand?"
"Yes... my Queen..."
Her grin grew wide in victory, ignoring to tell the Panthers to stop. She had her dragon, and he would not know the two he tried to protect would die anyway.
"Come with me, let us consummate our future in my quarters."
Sithris slowly padded out from the cave, Neala sitting on his back. He proudly wore the silver goggles, as Neala wore his original. He prepared to take flight when he felt something off. A yell to dodge quickly forced him to kneel down, dozens of yelps filling the air. He stood up, looking in horror as a large number of Panthers, all nearing him.
He quickly backed away before noticing they weren't moving. They were frozen. He gave a terrified sigh of relief, watching as Silvus stepped over.
"I figured it would be best to follow you at a distance, make sure nothing happened. Don't need another dragon getting ambushed here." Silvus pet Neala's head, smiling.
"I appreciate it Silvus. Had my fair share of run ins with these things. Rather not test my luck again." Sithris shook himself and smiled in appreciation.
Silvus simply nodded and opened a portal, allowing Sithris through, right back to Dragon's Claw.
"Oh yesSS! You are good with that tongue Rift. Such a good boy, get it nice and-nngh!" Shara squeezed her legs tightly around the orange dragon, climax hitting her hard. She panted for a few moments, looking over at her soaked pet.
Rift shivered in guilt as tears mixed in with the queen's ministrations. Had it been Kara or Sithris, he would have loved this. But he had surrendered to Shara, and now had to do what she wanted. He hated that even with all the guilt in his heart, his body was reacting to primal instincts.
The queen rubbed his head mockingly. "You really are a good boy when you know your place. Now it is time for your reward." She grabbed his collar, pulling until he was on top of her. She shivered in excitement, seeing her pet was more than equipped for what would come next. Shara smiled and spoke almost quietly, lust almost the only thing on her mind. "No one has ever been near me. You are mine. Do it. "
The drake couldn't hold back his crying whimpers as he pushed inside of her, removing the Queen of her innocence, and being forced to accept her as his mate. His mind and heart was screaming, calling him a traitor for doing this. He had done this to protect his family. But now, against his wishes, his body was responding just the way the Queen had hoped.
The two continued their mating, Rift's crying slowly turning to grunts, and Shara complimenting him with moans of pleasure. The fire drake was too mentally shattered and body physically stimulated to notice any changes. Shara's claws dug tightly into his shoulders and sides, raking down with intense force to leave massive gashes. The collar on his neck reacted, dark magic pouring out from the crystals, and into the wounds.
The drake's scales became a dark burnt orange, underbelly and wings becoming a dark gray. His muscles also returned, even more prominent than before. His eyes went from a deep blue to a washed out silver. The wounds themselves also turned grey.
As they neared the finish, Shara watched with glee as her pet was losing himself. The drake's mind was hanging by a thread, while his body was on autopilot, wanting nothing but to seed the dragoness. One more push was all she would need.
Her silver eyes flashed as they met his teary blue eyes. She grinned, feeling her mind invade his. Rift yelped, failing to push back against the presence in his mind.
The turquoise dragoness took a look at her surroundings. Lush green grass surrounding a crystal clear lake. His home, an obvious choice for the weakest part of his mind...
She pondered for a moment, digging into the memories of her victim in search of something useful. She grinned as she found what she had hoped for. With a snarl, her body changed, becoming muscular with burgundy scales and a dark yellow underbelly. One of her horns shrank and eventually looked as if it had been shattered. She panted, grinning as she was no longer female. He walked to the cave.
Inside, three dragons watched intently as a large egg slowly began to shake. None of them had heard the intruder enter, releasing a powerful dark ability to slam them all against the wall. Rift grunted and snarled, before horror crossed his face. "You're supposed to be dead Keltin!"
Shara smirked. Perfect, he can't see through this... She slammed into the orange drake, quickly using her magic to bind him to the wall, snout covered to avoid any use of breath attacks. "You always were weak. And now, you'll pay for it."
Keltin quickly did the same to the other two dragons, Sithris trembling in fear, and Kara growling in hatred. "What's the matter? This is only going to hurt terribly." His eyes locked on the egg.
With the three bound dragons screaming through their bonds, Keltin took a deep breath and released a massive beam of dark flames. The egg resisted for a bit, before eventually it gave in, the contents burning away into ash. He laughed in pleasure, looking over to see the dragons crying in agony over their lost child.
He's close, just a bit more. Or... I
I could make a big impact... Shara smirked in the form of the burgundy drake. He smiled teasingly. "Take a good look at your mates, whelp. Just know you could have avoided this years ago had you agreed to fight me back as younglings."
The orange dragon whimpered, trying to plead to his enemy not to murder his loves. He looked in their eyes, both almost begging him to do something. He tried his all, finding nothing could break him free of his bindings.
Eyes widened as he watched Keltin's serrated knife-like spade raise. He gave one last attempt at screaming before the spade slashed through the necks of his mates. Rift screamed at the top of his lungs, the loss of everything and the failure of protecting them crashing hard onto him. In that moment, his mind broke. Shara quickly jumped out of his mind and prepared for the finish.
She reached up and clamped hard onto Rift's neck, sealing their courtship with a mating bite. The collar's magic seeped in, and she had won. Rift roared and hilted himself inside of her, seeding her as the last of his mind was broken, leaving only a fresh slate to do the Queen's bidding.