Celestial Fragments

Soiled Underwear

There were no audible words exchanged, but after a few moments, Aellioah sighed and leaned back into his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose, his eyes closing for a few seconds, before opening and turning to look at the woman across the room. He didn't have to say anything to make Angelique feel even more self-conscious about her position. She shifted uncomfortably in her spot before looking away and around the room. Seemed to be a study of some sort, with countless books stacked neatly on the at least fifty- foot tall shelves, all tucked neatly under a dark dome. Around the room, between the shelves , scattered like stars, lights floated about, looking like stars ripped from the sky. On the left and right sides of the shelves right behind Aellioah, there were two large doorways that held no door, most likely leading to the rest of an impressive library. Once again, the greatness of this place made Anelique feel small and insignificant.

The raven-haired man took another pensive look towards Angelique, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, with the same visible disgust, before walking away and out of the room.

"You know-" Angelique started as soon as they were alone and the silence started too be uncomfortable. "It's not polite to whisper when there is someone else in the room." she started to unbutton the silver buttons and clasps of her coat.

"We were not whispering." cleared Aellioah, returning to his papers and notebooks.

"You clearly were doing something-" she huffed and got up, setting her coat on the armchair.

Under the coat, she wore a deep plum dress, decorated with white hems and patterns. It had a half turtle neck, and thigh sleeves, covering her comfortably to keep her warm. Aellioah watched her walk around the room, from her armchair to the burning fireplace, with slow steps, as if she was afraid he'd snap at her any moment.

The room was warm and it smelled of sweet woody flavors, making it seem like some sort of cabin hidden in the snowy mountains. Angelique stopped in front of the fireplace, extending her cold hands towards the warmth, while taking in the decoration of the room. There were several animal skulls hanging on the walls, belonging to animals she could not recognize. But the walls themselves did not hold much at all. They were painted in a plain color, and no pictures hung about, which was somehow strange. Now that she thought about it, she had not seen any picture of him, his family, anyone at all around this place. As intriguingly mysterious as this was, it was also a little strange, wasn't it?

A sudden frustrated groan escaped Aellioah as he slapped the paper he held back onto the desk, leaning back and running a hand over his face, brushing away his frustration. Her scent was slowly creeping around the room, taking up any free space in his mind as well, disrupting his thoughts with every breath he took.

"Why aren't you in your room?" he growled, looking at her from between his fingers, his hand hiding his expression.

Angelique didn't bother to turn and look at him. she kneeled down on the fur in front of the fireplace and got herself comfortable closer to the heat.

"Because It's boring."

"I'm sorry!" he suddenly huffed, tossing his hand in the air dramatically,. "I did not realize you are a child and need toys to entertain yourself!"he mocked, rolling his eyes, pulling his hand away from his face, revealing a very tensed jaw.

"And what did you expect?! Honestly?! That I'd sit around in that room forever ? Or until you decide to get rid of me?!"

"I actually did!" his answer came shortly. "I thought Kephri made it clear you're not supposed to be roaming around by yourself!" his voice lowered and his eyes narrowed. "You're an unmarked woman, walking around a place filled with beasts and monsters, all ready to claim a new s*x toy-"

"Are you talking about yourself, now?" she interrupted him, still avoiding his gaze.

Aellioah's jaw clenched again, a muscle ticking under his flawless skin. She was getting on every last bit of his nerves, whatever was left of them. He got up and walked to her, stopping beside her, looking down over her figure, before moving down to a similar level to hers. His hand grabbed her chin and forced her face towards him. When her hand raised to grab his and push away, he grabbed that one too and held it in his.

"Listen. I'll only tell you once, so you'd better get this in that thick skull of yours. "I brought you here, but that doesn't make it safe for you. You're possibly the most fertile and fit to breed females on this barren planet. Most of the females that are here are under my protection, bearing my sigil. You, on the other hand, are not. Azrael saved your sweet ass today from getting raped, but I'm not sure he'll do it a second time. And, my little darkling dragon, I'm too busy to watch your back."

Under his protection? Somehow, he made it sound as if he cared about everyone, unlike what Kephry told her. This thought drifted away immediately as his words settled in. Raped? Was that beast really going to-

"Your scent is all over the palace, drawing every beast here towards you. You were given my room, because that way they'll stay away. Or at least try their best to." he continued, his voice a low husky growl. "I'm barely holding back from f*****g you right here, right now. But don't hold it to anyone who doesn't have this kind of patience." he threatened, his hold on her face tightening, face leaning closer to her neck.

She could feel his nose settle under her ear, and his warm breath fall against her skin, sending delicious shivers down her body. But despite the way her body was reading, her mind became frantic. She smelled? Was she going to be raped? Bred like a mare?!

"And why won't you offer me protection if you bothered to drag me all the way here?" she eventually spoke.

Aellioah could feel the vibration of her words, pulsing under his lips as he placed a kiss on her skin. A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Because you're unwilling to bare my mark." he whispered in her ear, so soft and hot that, for a second, all she wanted was to have his lips on her skin again.

"When did you ever ask me?" she asked with a shaky voice.

A dark rumble of laughter started in his chest and cascaded against her soft skin, making her gasp for air as he pulled his face away from her neck, his nose now inches away from hers.

But the door opened and brought his laughter to a halt. "Ask Kephry to explain the difference between a sigil and a mark, little dragon, and then rethink your question." he whispered, releasing her face and getting up, leaving Angelique in a puddle of her own excitement and an unsteady heart. "Get her back to her room and have her change her underwear. Then you can bring her to visit the gardens, as you asked. I'll not have her around with her soiled panties, drawing any more extra attention to herself today." He instructed Kephry, who stopped in the doorframe, while he took his seat back at the desk.

After a few moments of processing what had just happened, Angelique sat up abruptly. "My! Aren't you just the biggest d**k around here?!" she huffed, stomping her way to grab her coat and immediately rushing out the door followed by a terribly silent Kephry.

***

"Who does he think he is?!" Angelique's voice echoed through the empty hallways.

"Hush!" Kephry hurried to keep her silent. "You really do seem to have a habit of making yourself a target!" she hissed between her sharp teeth, as they stepped outside the palace and started making their way towards the gardens.

The luscious flora of the gardens was easily overlooked by the human female who was still sulking over her latest encounter with Aellioah.

"What did he tell you to make you this angry?" Kephry eventually asked, pulling Angelique's attention on her.

"What's the difference between a sigil and a mark?" she asked plainly, without looking away from Kephry, who seemed to get uncomfortable by her question.

"This is a sigil-" she extended one of her arms and showed her the inner wrist where a golden sun was tattooed. "This provides protection. In exchange for services. Usually, s****l ones. " she sighed deeply and rubbed at her forehead. "I was a little harsh when I said he considers us play toys. Most of us willingly do it, while those who don't live the same kind of life as the rest."

"What kind of other services are you providing?" Angelique narrowed her eyes.

"Some of us brew potions, some cook delicious meals, some are extremely great at healing." she shrugged simply and pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to avoid the last part of her.

"That seems rather fair..." Angelique muttered, looking around them for a few silent moments, taking in the scenery. "But what about marking? I recall you saying none of you bear a mark..."

Kephry cursed under her breath in that harsh language that puzzled Angelique.

"Does it make you uncomfortable to talk about-"

"What makes me uncomfortable is that from any of us that have been serving for over decades, he chooses a skinny, scrawny, little human!" Kephry seemed to be visibly pissed, looking away from Angelique.

Angelique tensed and brought her hands together in front of her.

"If it makes it any better, I really don't want any of this-"

"Well, it doesn't, so save your breath." she hissed and stopped abruptly. "Marking is-" she stopped, trying to find the best words. "-It similar to mating between pairs?" she huffed in frustration. "Why is your language so full of pompous words!"

"So, it's some sort of "I pick you to f**k me", kinda thing?" Angelique seemed confused.

"Not at all!" Kephry clicked her tongue and slouched her shoulders. "It's like a wedding, like a contract between two souls that join each other to be one." Two of her hands merged together, fingers interlocking, as a picture of what she was trying to say.

Angelique's eyes rounded in stupefied horror as she looked at Kephry's hands.

"Whoever gets to bear his mark, will be Queen of Kunvanus and bear his children, carry his line and-"

"Enough enough enough!" she hurriedly stopped Kephry from talking.

"It brings them together. That way everyone will know she is taken, unavailable, no other being having any claim upon his mate. Upon his wife-" Kephry continued with a dreamy sigh, but Angelique had already walked away from her, further on the path into the garden.

As if running away from the dreamy alien would get her away from the words she spoke earlier.

Aellioah wanted her to be his bride? What forsaken thought was that got into his mind?! There had to be some trick he was trying to play-

From one of the nearby bushes, a loud roar paralyzed Angelique. She spotted a terrible beast approaching, with a black drool dripping from it's opened mouth, patches of fur missing, rotting flesh and exposed bones. The stench of decay hit right after she saw it and it immediately turned her stomach upside down, forcing her to gag.

"Angel!" Kephry's voice echoed from behind her.

Angelique turned her head to the alien that was running full speed towards her, a dagger in each hand. "Get away from it you stupid kahs!!"

When Angelique came to her senses, she turned, only to face the beast that jumped a few feet in the air, ready to pounce on top of her.