NIGHT
1700 Words
Porsha's POV
I slumped to the carriage floor, my body trembling as I watched Leviathan soaring across the sky in his dragon form.
The large beast with scales like burnt metal, dark brown, to glowing red scale closer to its chest flew ahead of us, the flapping of it's huge wings sending a cold chill down my spine.
I was so scared when he raised his hand to hit me, but all of a sudden he dropped his hand and jumped out of the carriage, transforming into a gruesome red dragon in seconds.
Now that I think about it I shouldn't have made fun of his relationship with his mom, it was absolutely thoughtless and mean of me, but then again he deserved it, after all the hurt he inflicted on me.
“I wouldn't let him scare me, not now, not ever” I thought to myself, as I gingerly rose to my feet , shut the carriage door and returned to my seat.
“If it was a fight Leviathan wanted, I was going to give it to him” I said to myself, my eyes blazing with determination.
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“Queen Porsha”
“Queen Porsha wake up” A masculine voice called out to me with urgency. Reluctantly, I flickered my eyes open to see the Coachman standing before me, a concerned look on his face.
Guess, I must have mistakenly fallen at sleep after my little squabble with Leviathan.
“Where am I?” I wondered, gazing out the window of the carriage for any clues, but only saw loose clouds and vegetation.
And as though reading my mind he responded with, “We are here my queen?”
“Where is here?" I doubted, my eyes still peeled on the window which had little or nothing to offer.
“The palace of Ember nest your majesty” He said with a smile and I was tempted to stare more intently.
He immediately cleared his throat, drawing my attention to himself, “This way," he corrected, gesturing at the carriage door, and my intrigues were immediately plagued.
I stepped out the carriage cautiously, my mind clouded with unanswered questions but the sight I beholded made my heart skip.
There stood a fortress made with reddish brown stones, and at the center stood a gigantic red gate made of copper and beautiful crystals.
Just then the palace gates fell open, revealing an extravagant red colored castle made up of miniature castles.
The sight was a thing of beauty that my mouth fell open despite hating the color red.
“My queen shall I lead you in?” The coachman doubted as he handed me my gaitou.
“No need good sir, get some rest, I will be just fine” I informed calmly, as I grabbed mother's gift now wrapped in fine linen and strided into the palace with my head hung low from shame.
Most wives were taken home by their husbands but mine abandoned me on the streets like I was garbage to him.
“A queen is not supposed to lower her head even at her lowest. She is to ensure that she hangs her head up at all times with pride” A gentle feminine voice boomed infront of me.
Driven by curiosity, I rose my head to see an attractive woman with a crown on her head, dressed in royal regalia. She had a certain charm about her and an aura that screamed of supremacy. One look at her and I knew exactly who she was, Leviathan's birth mother.
By her right stood, Leviathan's adopted mother Matilda and two other elderly women equally dressed in royal attires, to her left stood Anne with a broad smile, behind them were numerous women that I had never seen before.
“Greetings Empress” I salute her with a bowl and a smile. The last thing I wanted was to have issues with her.
She smiled at me and the next thing that happened, kept me rooted in place. She just grabbed me unexpectedly into a hug, her attractive perfume feeling my nostrils.
“Welcome home, my child” she said with genuine excitement like an actual mother would.
“Thank you, your majesty” I replied with a smile as we pulled away, my chest flickering with excitement.
“No need to be so formal with me my child, just call me mother” She said and the excitement I felt turned into pure ecstasy.
“Okay mother” I said and her smile widened.
“That is exactly what I want to hear my child. I was wondering if you would permit us to carry out some dragon traditions on you? Just to welcome you as our new daughter” She said, her tone rather pleading than commanding. Normally, I shouldn't have taken part in any dragon customs however the innocence behind her smile made my heart raced. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could politely decline Matilda's voice broke through the air.
“Empress Helen, I think you shouldn't force queen Porsha here to participate in any ritual considering how much she has disclosed her hatred for the dragon race"
Her words took me aback and I just stood there frozen. Wow, she really wasn't going to let me off the hook anytime soon. A frown creeped to Empress Helen's face, “If that's the case, we won't force you," She said taking me aback.
“You wouldn't?" Matilda asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, my daughter is free to make decisions in her husband's house, and it's my responsibility to respect it” Empress Helen said with a great smile.
Her kindness pierced my heart and without thinking, I responded with a, “I will do it mom. If you can respect my customs and traditions. It's only right that I do same”
Empress Helen's smile increased, her eyes glittering with excitement as she praised me, “You really are great, my child”
She asked me to take off my gaitou and shoes and that was what I did. I was then asked to place my feet in mud and write my name on the sand with my feet. After which she anointed my head with oil and lead me into the palace.
The main palace hallway was breathtaking, the walls, and floors were made of shiny red smooth crystals which were well fitted together, giving an illusion of a volcano underneath them.
The ceiling was out of this world, it was made of more elaborate crystals which shone in the daylight.
The rooms were spacious, with black scale like walls and curtains, but no doors.
Finally Empress Helen led me to my bedroom, and like most rooms it was spacious with a large living room, a miniature dinning room, a closet and bed space.
After all the formalities and introduction, empress Helen retired to her bedroom leaving just me and Anne to the solidarity of our new room.
“Isn't empress Helen the best?" Anne asked with excitement as she brushed my hair for the night.
“I know right, she is so humble, thoughtful and down to earth, not to mention she is nothing like that arrogant son of hers” I said with a broad smile of my own as I thought of all the nice things she told me.
“Porsha you're so lucky to have someone like her here. I bet your stay will be quite enjoyable” Anne informed and I had to agree, empress Helen had changed perception of this place entirely
“You can say that again" I said rising to my feet, gesturing at the lace of my corset “Now to more important things, a little help please”
“I thought you'll never ask” She said teasingly, as she began undoing the lace, “You know what Porsha, I don't think you need corsets anymore, your structure is already perfect”
“I know right” I agreed, taking in a deep breath, as she took off the corset, “Tell that to my mom. You know what she always says, right?”
“Beauty is pain. If it's not painful, it's not pretty” We said in unison and immediately burst into laughter.
“Anne, you are so going to loose your job. I'm so telling on you to mom” I teased and her laughter intensified.
“like she is going to believe you. She trust me more than she does you” Anne fired back.
“We will see about that” I said trying to sound serious but once more my laughter got the better part of me.
Just then a masculine voice echoed from outside my room curtains, “Beware the queen mother of Ember nest, her majesty queen Matilda is entering the room,” and Matilda walked in.
“Greetings queen Porsha” She greeted first, with a traditional Ember nest greeting. Her smile not reaching her eyes.
“Greetings queen mother Matilda...” I greeted politely but she wasn't impressed in the slightest.
“No need to be so modest now queen, call me ma Matilda if you must” She corrected and I agreed with a nod.
”Anyway, I came here to deliver a message from his highness, dragon king Leviathan I” She informed and I rolled my eyes from boredom.
“Please go straight to the point, ma Matilda” I informed, impatient.
Why exactly does she have to hype him all the time, we get it she raised him, now can we please rest.
“His highness wishes to see you in his chamber tonight”
“What???”
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- Writer
