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Author’s notes: Hiya! As is usual, all disclaimers apply. Also, I admit that this was in part influenced by Theria’s Dragons Rule, ( Which is finished, Yay!). This is probably going to be a parallel universe story, but I’ll try to make it as un-confusing as possible. Enough babble, onward!
"Lina-san?"
Lina Inverse looked up from the mirror. "Amelia?"
Her maid walked in timidly. "Lina-san, did you need anything?"
The priestess sighed. Amelia had been a friend, and she had never wanted the girl to be her servant. But it was the only way to keep her here at the Dragon’s Sanctuary, and if Amelia left, there would be no way for the young girl to survive. "No, Amelia. Why don’t you get some rest?"
The girl smiled sadly, her deep blue eyes wise beyond her years. "It’s okay, Lina-san. I’m not tired."
"Why don’t you make me some snacks, then? Oh, and make some for Gourry too." The jellyfish always finds his way here at around this time…
"Yes, Lina-san."
Lina Inverse went back to contemplating her reflection. She hated it here, at the Sanctuary. Of course, it was the safest place since the war, but there was something about these unearthly structures that just bothered her to no end.
It had been a thousand years since the War of the Monsters’ Fall. The Ryuzoku had won that war and sealed the five mazoku lords away with the Dark Lord, Shabranigdu. Since then, humans and dragons have lived together, side by side.
Lived together? She wondered wryly. More like oppressed under.
"Of course there is still the threat of the evil mazoku," she muttered under her breath. "Oh, dear! There are still demons running around! That’s why we mighty dragons must protect you weak humans."
"Lina? Is that you?"
Lina jumped a feet into the air, but relaxed when her brain recognized the voice. "I’m in here, Gourry. Come on in."
The less than brilliant captain of the guard came in. It was more of an honorary title than anything else, even though Lina admitted the blond had impressive skill with the sword. "Were you talking to someone?"
"No, Gourry. What are you doing up this late?"
He scratched his head. "I had guard duty, but I just finished my shift. Amelia caught me before I left and told me she was taking snacks up here. So I came."
"Silly Gourry." Lina sighed. "So, anything exciting happen today?"
"I don’t remember."
"I forgot. You have the worst memory of all the people I know." She grumbled.
"Yup." He replied. "Oh, there was something…There was a big commotion today when the General arrived."
"I heard." Lina frowned. "Funny thing is that I’ve never heard of Cepheed having a general. After all, Nee-san is his Knight. Why does he need a general?"
"I dunno." Gourry shrugged. "She’s pretty though."
"She?"
"It’s a she. I heard rumors that she was here to interrogate the demon that the Black Dragons brought over."
Lina raised an eyebrow. "Wow, I’m amazed you remember that much."
"Lina-san, Gourry-san," Amelia’s voice came to them. "Open the door please?"
"Ah, here you…" Gourry blinked intelligently at the huge tray of food the girl was holding. "You didn’t get the jelly roll thingys!"
Lina whacked him. "Jelly roll, my foot! Go get it yourself if you want them, Jellyfish brains…"
"Ow…what did I do?"
The dungeon was deep underground, built under the Sanctuary. It had the strongest of holding and sealing spells, a necessity when trying to hold demons.
"Here we are, my Lady."
The woman nodded, her expression unreadable. "Open the locks."
"But…" The guards exchanged fearful looks.
"Open them."
Perhaps it was her commanding presence. Or it might have been that the fear she struck in the guards’ hearts was greater than their fear of whatever was inside that cell. The point was that they opened the door and she gestured for them to leave her.
"General-sama…"
"Leave." She said with exasperation. They eyed her giant war axe and left. Nothing like a six-foot tall axe to catch someone’s attention. The lady shifted her axe to her left hand, brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear as she entered the cell. Briefly, she tested the strength of the wards. The shock of the energy sent back to her convinced she was in the right place. A place that light seemed to have forsaken.
"Well, well. I get a visitor?" A soft voice murmured. She turned to face the direction that the voice came from. "That is highly unusual."
"Did you put out all the lights?" She asked in return, casting a Light spell. The room lit up and she got a good look at the demon she wanted to kill.
He cringed a little at the light, but kept his bright smile. It annoyed her, that smile. Annoyed her to no end. "Why, how nice. I have a visitor, and it’s a pretty Dragon too."
"Watch your mouth, Demon," She retorted. "I’m not here to play your little games. I’m giving you one last chance. Tell me what I want to know."
The demon gave her an amused look, smile tilting just a fraction. "And you tell me, pretty Dragon, why would I tell you something that I haven’t told anyone else? After all, I doubt you can do anything worse than what they did."
"Because I’ll kill you if you don’t." She hissed, grabbing his neck. He chuckled.
"You’ll kill me anyway." He whispered. "I can see it in your eyes. Your hate is very tasty, pretty Dragon."
"Stop calling me that!" she snarled. "Damn you." He could see his reflection in her large eyes. Blue like sapphires…
"A Golden Dragon." He murmured. "I see why you hate me now, my pretty little Dragon." She bit her lip and turned pale with rage. The dragon grabbed his throat and shook him, slamming him into the wall. Trying to shut him up, trying to shut up the memories of voices inside her mind.
"SHUT UP!" she released him, backing away. "Damn you…" Tears filled her vision as she stomped out of the cell, slamming the door shut and reactivating all the wards.
Damn him for bringing up what happened. Damn him for destroying her race. Damn him for reminding her. Damn him for making her lose control.
Damn that mazoku.
The General of Cepheed controlled herself with difficulty. That wasn’t important. That demon will pay for his crimes soon enough. But he has information. Information that the Dragons need in order to keep the mazoku from ever being a threat again. She needed that information. And she will get it, even if she has to shake it out of him personally.
"Am I interrupting anything?"
She looked up. "Hello, Luna."
The Knight gave her an appraising look. "You look terrible. Go get some rest, Filia."