“Just last blackout you told me about a huge worm creature that eats children. Everyone played along, and you all had tales…and come to find out you were making it all up. I know I am slipping into madness, Tamara. You don’t need to hurry me along.”
“We were joking that other time. This is real,” she said.
“How should I know the difference?” he replied.
“Will you stop with this?” A woman’s disembodied voice floated along the cells. I couldn’t tell where she resided. “You aren’t mad. You’re just too gullible. You’re fun to mess with.”
“No, no.” His hand dropped down to the ground outside his cell. “I’m pretty sure I went mad somewhere along the way. I haven’t broken yet, though. You know how I know that? Because they don’t dare send me off to the fine parties without a cage. They keep me caged and chained until they want to use me, and then they goose me with magic before they get me naked. It’s fun when it’s happening, may the goddess slap my heinie. I feel dirty when I’m done, though, and filthy for having enjoyed it, but damn it all if it isn’t fun in the moment. You all know what I mean, don’t say you don’t. But one day their magic won’t work so well, and that is the day when they will all die. That is how I know I’m not broken.”
“It’s called shame fucking,” I murmured. “There was an awful lot of shame fucking where I came from. The demons ruled the nights. Not many fine folks left by now. Mostly mediocre, if you hear them tell it…”
“Maybe you have gone mad, too,” he replied in the singsong voice before I could ask about those from my kingdom.
“If you’re from Wyvern, why did I never see you in the court?” Tamara asked. “I knew all the dragons of the court, especially the females. I would’ve noticed you.”
“I wasn’t in the court. I’m common. Time didn’t stop for me. I was seven when the curse struck. I only recently learned I was a dragon. I’ve never shifted.”
A shocked silence descended. Forearms pushed a little closer to the bars, and his pointed nose peeked through them.
“Then how do you know you’re a dragon?” someone asked down the way. A woman, but I couldn’t tell which one.
I opened my mouth to respond but froze when I heard footsteps scrape against the steps.
All other sound ceased as everyone’s focus snapped to who was coming.
Shiny black boots over tight black pants came into view, their steps slow and sure. Another set came right after, descending.
“Ah, fuck,” Vemar said, rolling his head. “Here come the dignity thieves.”
Govam and Denski came into view. They had different clothing and seemed a little fresher, like they’d bathed and slept, but they had the same resolute or blank expressions. The same coiled form of movement.
More boots came behind them, a host of female and male demons tramping down the stairs. One woman I recognized: Sonassa, the succubus who’d taken an interest in me. Her hips swung a little more freely than the others, and a little smile curled her lush lips.
They hit the bottom of the stairs, staring straight at me. They bypassed the others, clearly one destination in mind.
“No rest for the wicked, eh, Strange Lady?” Vemar said as he watched them.
“There is a time to fight and a time to wait.” I knew that voice. It belonged to the shifter who’d volunteered to take a beating in my place last night. His baritone voice washed through the dungeon like a tranquil summer’s day, warm and comforting. “Pull within yourself and wait for it to end. Whatever happens, there is no judgment here. Dragons stick together. Remember that. We are with you every step of the way. We will be here when you get back. Just make sure you do come back.”
Murmurs of assent drifted down the way as the stream of guards in black continued their approach.
Govam reached my cell, coming to a stop in front of me. He glanced down at the sword, then over at Jedrek, huddled in the corner.
“You two are coming with me,” he said. “Stand.”
“I’m cooperating.” Jedrek put his hands out. “See?”
“Put your back to the bars, dragon,” Govam barked.
In a new twist of an old tale, she will show them her back, folks. Hold your breath and hope it doesn’t go wrong.
Please kill that audience, my dragon intoned.
“You too,” Govam said, and Jedrek stepped over toward the door and turned, giving me a nervous look. “Hands through. Two hands through the same set of bars, up to the wrists.”
My belly coiled in unease, but I took a deep breath and did as ordered. Jedrek did the same, still looking at me anxiously.
Cold metal encircled my right wrist and tightened. My left wrist got the same action, the weight of the metal dragging them down. Cuffs.
“Step forward, dragon.” Govam’s voice was terse, official. He was in his rightful position again, I guessed. Captain. “You too…”
“Muskrat,” someone called out. “I bet he’s a muskrat!”
“He ain’t no dragon, that’s for sure,” Vemar drawled. “Dragons don’t play dead. I’d go with possum.”
“Yeah, possum,” a few people shouted, snickering.
“My parents were wolves,” Jedrek grumbled. “I should be a wolf.”
Govam ignored them all. “To the door, prisoners.”
Denski fit the key in the lock, his eyes on me. He twisted, popped the lock, and opened the door slowly.
“Dragon first.” He put out his hand and beckoned me closer. “Turn around and walk backward toward me. If you make any wrong moves, you’ll get the whip and be tied up and dragged.”
“Haven’t we been through this already?” I asked, but did as he’d said. “I didn’t make a move the last time you transported me.”
“You killed an officer,” Govam said, meeting us at the door.
“Yeah, but he started it.”
“He did start it,” Vemar called down. “I saw the whole thing.”
“Quiet there,” one of the guards barked. “Quiet down!”
Denski placed a hand on each of my arms at the elbow and guided me out of the cell before handing me off to Govam. He took hold, pointing me toward the stairs.
“Now you, possum,” Denski said to Jedrek, and snickers sounded within the other cells.
“Here we go.” Govam pushed me forward.
Four guards stepped toward me, two on each side. Sonassa was one of them, giving me a fond smile I didn’t much like. Another couple of demons walked past us, heading for Jedrek. He wasn’t getting as many guards as I was. I mentioned it to my dragon.
Can you blame them? My dragon sounded smug.
It would’ve been much better for me if I’d played dead, too. If they thought I was weak. Fewer guards would make it easier to escape.
“Look at that, Micah,” someone called. “That little dragon is getting as many guards as you do.”
“That new dragon got you nervous, boss?” Vemar asked with a grin, watching Govam.
Dragons react to strength, my dragon thought. You are showing yours. Getting their support and respect is worth being stuck with a few more guards.