Cassandra Pendragon

“A battle,” I echoed weakly. “Against whom?” My voice was shaky. It wasn’t the pain, although it did hurt like hell, but I had been through much worse. My core was replenishing the energy I lost as quickly as it was siphoned off, but the more it provided, the more was taken away. I had become a vessel, a bottleneck for transcendent forces and I felt the strain.

“I wish I knew,” she replied, her warmth counteracting the creeping chill, settling into my bones. “When the glyph activated… I know bits and pieces. Amazeroth didn’t lie, not directly. It can detect corruption but its actual purpose… I think he sealed the ring and the rune can break it open. If it has enough energy. Those… eggs, they contain a transcendent spark. I don’t know whose, but right now, it’s being converted and absorbed.”

“Is that even possible,” I breathed. “I thought transcendent forces were immutable.”

“Yours is, but… you have killed before, haven’t you? If they truly were unchangeable, you couldn’t have done it. Your missing the point, though. If even a single speck of energy escapes…”

“It’ll return and whoever put their essence there will immediately know what’s going on.” I felt her nod, her hair brushing against my ears.

“And it wouldn’t only mean exposing Gaya… Cassy, no one knows you wear that ring. If you break the connection, the truth will come out. The entire host will descend upon us within days. We can’t allow that to happen. Should we fail here, we’ll have to run, we’ll have to leave this planet. So… whatever you do, don’t ever let go.”

I gritted my teeth. “I’m not planning to. All I have to do is supply energy until it’s over, right?” A tremulous smile tugged on the corners of my mouth. “Nothing will ever outlast my stubbornness.”

“I know and I’ll be with you all the way. Just… don’t pass out on me and we will be fine.”

“Sounds easy enough.” It wasn’t. Imagine your body oscillating between a massive, painful fever, when my power was taken, and jolts of ecstasy, whenever it was being refilled. The latter might sound desirable on paper, but trust me, it wasn’t. If anything, it was worse. Pain, I could deal with, but this… it felt overbearing, almost like a violation. I was already becoming lightheaded and the squeezing, tearing sensation in my hand didn’t help much, either. It was something to cling on to, but I didn’t know, if it’d be enough. Not that I was going to tell Ahri the truth, but judging from the frantic strength she used to pull me into her, she already knew anyways.

“I hope it is,” she murmured in my ear. “Cassy, this isn’t a moment, when you can play hero. Tell me, if it becomes too much. Please, promise me.” I hesitated.

“Not before you tell me what you’re going to do.”

“Does it matter? Something desperate. I don’t know, if I can actually help you directly but I’m sure as hell going to try. Cassy, we really are in danger. Don’t brush it off. Getting hurt is fine, for both of us, but we can’t afford to lose, not this time. So please, promise me.”

“Fine, I promise,” I relented, the transcendent shackle a familiar surge of heat in my chest. “For now, I can hold on, though. Just… don’t let go of me.”

“I won’t.” She gently guided my head to rest against her shoulder. “However long it takes.”

The next minutes were challenging, to say the least. We were isolated, cut off from everyone else by an impenetrable wall of light, the energies thundering around us an insurmountable barrier. I still felt Viyara’s presence, the dragoness prowling up and down, in her original form, circling the roaring storm. She was anxious, her tongue tasting the electricity in the air compulsively, but she didn’t try to force her way through. She still felt my thoughts and she had heard enough to understand, that there was nothing for her or anyone else to do. This was a battle Ahri and I had to fight for ourselves. Our companions wouldn’t even be able to reach us, never mind help.

Time ticked on, agonisingly slowly, the seconds drawn into what felt like hours, while my body reacted to the ebb and flow of energy. One moment, I was freezing, the next a wave of heat washed over me, accompanied by a tantalising, tingling sensation, that struck straight to my groin and through it all, it felt like my hand was being ripped off. It was just about bearable, but what really got to me, was the amount of control I had. When my mind had calmed down, I had realised, that I could prevent my powers from being taken. I would have been able to stop it with nothing but a wish, but I couldn’t, not unless I was willing to risk more than I had bargained for.

Suffering was one thing, but enduring while you could simply walk away was different. It took courage, almost more than I could muster. If it hadn’t been for Ahri’s presence and her whispered words of encouragement, I wouldn’t have made it. I’d have called it quits halfway through and screw the consequences. The seemingly unending cycle of pain and pleasure was too much to cope with. My head was spinning and my vision flickered, my nerves alight with power. Every time Ahri moved behind me I shivered, the gentlest of touches setting my skin on fire. I wasn’t sure whether to moan or cry and I ultimately closed my eyes, surrendering to the onslaught.

I didn’t resist anymore. The sensations consumed me, catapulted me from ecstatic highs to excruciating lows. Sweat drenched my dress and it took all I had to remain still, my body demanding to… do something, to run, to fight or maybe even turn around and kiss her. Anything would have been better than remaining stiff and rigid, like a discarded doll. But I didn’t give in. It wasn’t conviction or strength that kept me going, it was a stupid thought. I wouldn’t fail, not while Ahri was holding me in her arms. I’d be damned before I’d disappoint her. I wouldn’t give in.

I clenched my teeth and waited, gradually distancing myself from the ravaging energies. My perception became dull. Sounds, smells and thankfully even my sense of touch dimmed until I felt like I was in a trance, still there but somehow apart from everything else. In a way, it became a dream, real and terrifying, but yet far away and long gone. My muscles relaxed, my breathing deepened and I stopped shaking. Pain and pleasure were still surging beneath the surface but it had become muted, something I felt but didn’t really care for, as if I had been drugged.

For how long it lasted I couldn’t say, but when I was already tails deep in my own little world, the jarring power slowly subsided. Each cycle was less… consuming, less demanding until all that was left was a burning, stinging sensation on my finger, a deep seated lethargy and the thrum of unfulfilled desire. What the hell had those eggs contained?

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“I think we’ve done it,” I slurred, unable to open my eyes, even though I could finally lower my hand. Soft lips touched the crown of my head and gentle fingers curled around my injured finger. I heard footsteps and the slithering of a gargantuan body close by, but I couldn’t get myself to care and neither did Ahri.

“You, you’ve done it,” she whispered and kissed me again. I felt her navigate my hand towards her face. I wasn’t sure, but I thought it was already regenerating. At least it hurt considerably less. “You’re healing, on the outside, at least. How are you feeling?” I frowned.

“I…” a mild blush rose to my cheeks, when I puzzled over the question. “Tired, spent and… hungry.” Relieved, she laughed, her tails caressing my thighs, which drove me mad. My skin was still overly sensitive and the light touch was almost too much for me to bear.

“I’m sure we can find something for you to dig into. It should be fine, as long as you don’t have cook yourself. After the mess we’ve already made, Xorlosh won’t take lightly to us ruining even more of his ship.”

“That’s not quite what I meant… wait. Ruining his ship?” Struggling, I opened my eyes and blinked blearily. Damn it! The air was filled with thick, dark swaths of smoke and between us and the place the eggs had rested, small fires were gnawing at the charred planks. Close to us, everything made of metal had melted, most wooden things had skipped burning and had directly turned into ash, their outlines visible as dusty smears on the ground. The crystals had exploded, leaving behind small, glowing craters. Fine lines on the ground indicated, where the power we had channeled had spilled over, the intricate web reminiscent of the glyph on Ahri’s chest. Where the eggs had been, the floor was entirely gone, leaving behind a gaping hole. The acrid smell of the furnace wafted up from the lower floors and I could hear deep, gravely voices shouting in agitation. Not even the dwarfs had kept their cool, when the ceiling had suddenly turned into a bonfire and the storm of energy we had unleashed had meddled with the flying stone.

Viyara and Aurelia were shielding the two fey with their wings, their magics mingling in a magnificent display, a multicoloured, crimson golden shield in front of them. They eyed us warily, wondering if the storm had passed. Aurelia was, aside from a few tears in her dress, unscathed, but Viyara was still bleeding from a myriad of shallow cuts, her steaming blood hissing wherever it dripped onto the ground. She hadn’t been injured by whatever I had done, not directly, but when the crystals had exploded, the shards had turned into shrapnel and while her scales had resisted, her wings had not. It wasn’t dangerous for a creature of her size, but it still hurt, I could feel it.

Cussing, with more enthusiasm than actual strength, I tried to sit up, but my love wouldn’t have any of it. She resolutely held me down, shaking her head in disbelieve. “You’ll stay right where you are,” she admonished me sharply. “Unless an army of immortals is coming for us, the only place you’ll go is a hot bath and a warm bed. And you won’t be walking by yourself, either.” She lowered her head and added in an intimate, husky whisper: “don’t think I didn’t understand you. We’ve been linked through it all.” To emphasise her words, she nibbled on my ear.

I bit back a moan, my blood thundering in my ears, especially where I could still feel her hot, teasing breath. “Vixen,” I pressed out, “you have no idea what you’re doing to me.” She chuckled throatily.

“Are you sure? Listen, concentrate.” For the fraction of a second I was confused, but soon enough, I felt her presence through our tattoos. Only, the connection was much stronger, almost as if it had been reinforced. If I focused, I could not only hear her thoughts and sense her presence, but I could practically see through her eyes. I felt her warmth against my back and her tails around my waist, but I also felt my weight in her arms, my smooth skin under her tails and the caress of moonlight, wherever my wings brushed against her body. I swallowed dryly.

“Did you… all of it?” I was already plenty red and sweaty but I quickly transformed into a tomato.

“More than enough,” she laughed. “If it hadn’t been so fucking dangerous and you hadn’t fought tooth and nail against it, I’d have enjoyed it quite a bit. Imagine how it’s going to feel,” her fingers were trailing down my side, “when we’re together. Just the two of us.” I wouldn’t have been surprised if steam had been whistling out of my ears. She wasn’t as turned on as I was, yet, but she was getting there and our connection now even mirrored our desires. Damn it, I really liked Viyara and the lot of them, but right now I wished them to the moon.

“An explanation, then a bath,” I stated, my voice much firmer than before. “You have two minutes to explain, I won’t wait longer. Someone else can deal with… this.” I gesticulated vaguely towards the large hole and the destroyed cargo. Chuckling, she replied:

“I fear that’s not going to go over as smoothly as you imagine. Look…” she gently turned my head, bringing into view…

“What in Angrosh’s name have you done?” Viyara, Aurelia and the fey had come closer, the dragoness brimming with relief that I wasn’t writhing on the floor anymore. What really cooled me down like a bucket of ice water, though, was the beet red dwarf behind them, tearing at his hair. “What… how,” he stammered, his eyes wide while he surveyed the scene of destruction before him. “Five minutes. Five gods damned minutes! How can you even wreak that much havoc in five minutes?”

“That’s a really good question,” another voice added. My faithful protectors had also managed to make their way downstairs and judging from their expressions they weren’t amused, not one bit. “Would you mind explaining, why…” a deep, reverberating growl brought Corvin up short. Viyara knew how shaken I still was and she wasn’t planning on letting them tear into me, while I was trying to figure out how to get to my feet. Over the last weeks I had gotten quite used to her, be it in her draconic or elvish form, but the kitsune and dwarfs didn’t have that advantage. They had held up reasonably well, while she had appeared as a pretty, timid girl, even though they had known what slumbered beneath her alluring smile, but now, confronted with massive, slithering coils of sparkling gold and a maw, filled with teeth longer than my arm, it was a bit different. Corvin paled, swallowed and took a step back but to my surprise, the dwarf didn’t give a rat’s ass.

“Now there, lass,” he rumbled, “and what’s that supposed to mean? Yah wouldn’t be barking at me now, would yah?” The wall of shimmering scales moved, turning into a living fortress around Ahri and me. I gratefully stroked her ruff, glad for the few minutes she had bought me.

“Help me up,” I told Ahri. “I’m not going to answer them while I’m in your arms or on the ground.”

“Fine,” she mumbled a bit mulishly, “but I’m not going to let go of you. I don’t think you can stand on your own.” Grimacing, I nodded and she pulled me to my feet. I staggered immediately and only her tails around my middle kept me upright. “Told you,” she quipped.

Meanwhile, Erya had taken it upon herself to assuage the worst of their worries. Even though the blood was still thrumming in my ears, I heard her retort sharply:

“What do you think happened? When Cassandra touched the stones they reacted. Don’t ask me how or why, but I’m quite sure it wouldn’t have turned out for the better, if she hadn’t done it. You should know as much about her by now.”

“I appreciate what she’s doing,” I whispered, “but I imagine nothing at all would have happened, if I hadn’t come near those darn things.” Tentatively, I touched Ahri’s mind, deepening our connection. It felt strange, having her actual sensations overlap my own perception, but it wasn’t half as bad as it had been. With her fretting over my apparent pallor and me starting to feel tremendously exhausted, it was far easier to keep my thoughts on a less carnal track and I managed to quickly go through her memories from the last few minutes.

When the glyph had activated, she hadn’t had an epiphany, but the rune itself and the way it interacted with her own powers had taught her a thing or two. First of all, the sigil and the ring were linked, she had called it a key and a lock, it’d have described it as two sides of a coin but however it actually worked, there was a constant, ever so minuscule, stream of power flowing between them. Secondly, glyph and ring only reacted to corrupted transcendent energies. They didn’t even register anything else. Considering what I knew, that meant a mixture of demonic and angelic essences, either set free through mortal meddling without the necessary power to contain the forces, or through us. Unfortunately, we still didn’t know, if the energy of a corrupted immortal had been stored inside, or if angelic and demonic powers had been introduced separately. Plus, we didn’t have the foggiest, whose it could have been in the first place.