How did a sorceress like me get stuck as a thief? I thought as I run my fingers up my tummy and spin around.
I see the king there, watching me with interest. He has long black hair and blood red eyes, symbol of the Vierdan family. The royal family was known for their red eyes. I see him stare at my a**, and I flick my blood red hair, tilting my head at him and raising my shoulder in a flirty way. I tilt my head forward slightly as I winked and blew him a kiss.
Oh yeah, my brothers ruined my reputation. Yeah, that's right. I went back to dancing.
The king had something I wanted-- needed, actually. He didn't even know what it was, he thought it was just another jewel. It was the legendary Dragon's Eye-- a star ruby that grants draconic powers when worn.
The artifact is powerful, incredibly powerful. Let it fall into the wrong hands would make the Great War look like a barroom brawl.
I continued to dance.
After the dance, and I was rested, I feel him approach from behind. He wrapped his arms around me and licked the sweat off my neck.
Hi there beautiful.
Hi.
I would like to see a little more... skin.... if you don't mind.
Great. He sees me as a stripper.
Anything you say, milord.
He lead me to his quarters.
--------------------------------
~several months later~
~several months later~
The king has kept me by his side ever since that night in the bedroom. I think he sees me as a servant, perhaps as a friend. We are inseparable.
Until now. I am so close to my objective. I'm wearing my black thief gear as I slip into the kings bedroom. I slink over to his jewel chest. I quietly open it and search through it, looking for the dragons eye.
I hear him stir.
Mmmm.... Rachel... Mmmmmm.... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I find it, a glorious red star ruby. I smile and slowly close the trunk, and I hold it closely to my chest as I creep toward the door. I go to slowly turn the handle to leave when I realize... the door is locked.
Suddenly, there's a flash of light as the gem attunes itself to me and my powers, and I cry out as I feel my magic expand to a point where it almost hurts.
I stumble and fall against the wall, tears welling up in my eyes.
The king wakes.
Nnnn~? Whaaaa?
He sees me, the rare ruby clutched to my chest. I slowly stand up.
Rachel? You... you're a theif?
I fumble with it, pulling out a circlet.
I'm sorry... but I must not let this gem fall into the wrong hands...
You will not take it at all!
He grabs a dagger off of his bedside table as I put on the circlet, adjusting it to fit my head. Before I can react to him, he attacks.
I try and dodge, but his knife gets my thumb, and I shriek.
I jump back and flee for the window, shuddering as a pair of huge red wings burst from my back. I hold my bleeding hand tightly as I flee the castle, trying to nub the pain.
--------------------------------
~several months later~
~several months later~
The stump of a finger is throbbing again. I sit out on my porch. I've grown into a fully fledged half dragon, complete with patterns of scales all over my body, wings, horns and a tail.
I cross my legs and run the rim of one of my claws around the rim of my empty shotglass. I don't normally drink, but it's easing the pain of the stump a little.
My thoughts wander to the king. I wonder why I coudn't bring myself to defend myself from him. I was able to, surely.
I remember that first night, his toned chest and abs, his strong arms holding me...
I took another shot of whiskey and smirked at the sunset.
Horseshoes and hand grenades. Potatoes and gravy. Black and white. That's about how we worked, despite everything, worked. We liked it that way too.
I still might pay him back for my thumb.
