Clean Slate

Chapter 2- Ignis Regalis

His charcoal eyes grew closer. I could not move or look away, his stare was too intense. His eyes ate into my soul with his disdain for me so clear. Why? Why did he hate me so? I tried to move my arms, but they are chained to the grey brick wall. The Ignis Regalis kept his steady approach, he enjoyed watching me cower. His tongue reached out to touch my skin. As I attempted to kick his serpent tongue away, he wrapped it around my ankle and yanked my leg back down. The beasts’ snout was now breathing on my face, his tongue no longer wrapped around my leg, but licking and caressing my face. I turned and bit it.

My body sat up, woken by that nightmare. I felt a new cushion underneath me, a much softer cushion. The walls of the gift box are gone, replaced by walls of grey and brown bricks. My wrists are still cuffed and my leash had been tied to a stone post next to my cushion. The crimson granite floor reflected the torches around the room. In the firelight I see priceless arts hung from the walls and one familiar piece that stood out beside the arched doorway. Vision’s hair piece, by far my least favorite of her work and now the most profound. Is she here?

“Is she awake yet?” I heard someone ask from outside the door. Couldn’t be a draco asking, dracones do not talk. 

“Well, I don’t know. If she wakes up the master will know, he always knows.” Another voice responded.

“Are you awake?” A strong, heavy tone jolts my mind.

Yes. I responded automatically, I couldn’t trick my conscience to lie that fast. 

“I’m coming.” He said. My mind said wait, but I do not know if he chose to listen since I did not get a response.

My stomach tightened and I felt dizzy. This is it, he is going to eat me.

“I am not going to eat you.” The draco’s voice responded. 

“Then what do you want from me?” I asked him out loud. 

“Oh, she is awake!” The guards outside exclaimed. They must be hybrid, humans are never used as guards. 

“She is ready for you, Master.” One of the guards said, then she and the other guard opened the heavy wooden door to reveal the same massive Ignis Regalis that had bought me. The one in my nightmare.

“Hello, little one.” The draco mentally intruded. The guards closed the door behind him. 

I’m 21 years old, far from little.

“So you are,” He laughed, “you have quite a bite for a little one.” 

Is that what this leash is for? Afraid I’ll bite?

“Afraid?” He fumed and in that split second, his talons were around my neck.

Great, now I have two collars. 

The Regalis demon was insulted, but could not hold back his chuckle. “Okay, let’s communicate a bit better. I want you to be comfortable here.” He unhooked the leash from my collar and broke the chain connecting my handcuffs with a snap of his talons. 

Now I have bracelets. 

“Is that better?” 

“Yes.” I responded with my voice instead of my head this time. I sounded bolder in my head. Out loud, I squeaked like a mouse. The Regalis laughed, clenching his stomach. His “rah ha ha” echoed off the walls. It was then I noticed that his scales were identical to the crimson granite flooring. His scales actually reflected the torches even brighter, as if they were on fire themselves. 

“What is it that you want from me?” I said with much more certainty than before. 

“Well first, I would like a taste.” His  words slithered into my head. I shivered at the thought. His tongue stretched out of his beastly jaws and landed onto my chest, right above my breasts. I smacked his tongue away.

“Interesting. I taste baking powder? Hmmm curious...” He stared into my eyes inquisitively. 

“You said you wouldn’t eat me. That was you in my head earlier wasn’t it?”

“Yes. I will not eat you, but I will taste you from time to time. What good would it do to devour you when I can have an unlimited supply of such a treat?  You are a pet I haven’t had in a century.” His jaw twisted into a short smirk, it was hideous. 

“I am not a pet you will ever have.” I challenged. 

“They did not train you well at that shelter did they?” He was referring to the Pax Institute, where I was born and raised, where all humans that I knew of were born and raised. If a human or minus pet became pregnant and carried on unreported, the draco or hybrid faced serious charges. Pregnant pets are required to be sent to the Institute to give birth, afterward she is returned to her owner where her milk will be pumped for about 6 months, as she continues her regular duties. The milk pumps are alternated every night and shipped to the milk storage at the Opus nursery at the end of every day, and then her milk distributed to any infant there.

One positive to being a draco pet is that my master cannot physically impose unwanted pregnancy. A draco can not even commit s****l assault, though, the placement of his tongue earlier is certainly questionable. Their form of intercouse is much more complex than any form of regeneration known, animameagenisis. Anima mea means soul, and genesis translates to creation. 

“Well, let me tell you why you are here and why you are in my debt.” The Ignis draco continued after he gave up on waiting for my response. “If I did not buy you right then and there, there would have been only two possible outcomes for you. One, someone else would have bought you and then had you for dessert. Or two, you would have been imprisoned by the guards, interrogated, probed and then torched for your sorcery.” He communicated this very matter-of-factly and he was not wrong, but he was also unaware that he had fallen into my trap. I was hoping that a curious and powerful draco, like him, would see the value in my magic trick and allow me to become a revered icon. If I become a feared icon, however, I would be devoured indeed. 

“Yes, you are right. And in response to your earlier inquiry, no, the institute did not teach me much. Perhaps you can teach me the ways of your world instead, Master?” Now that I know this master means no real harm, it is time to blend-in until I can figure out my next big ruse.

“That was quite a shift?” His suspicion is clear, I can not let my mind betray me. I forced my brain to picture myself as a model pet, followed by messages of sheer joy at this thought. Images consisted of me scrubbing his giant dragon feet with a sea urchin stick, followed by I hope this pleases you as it cleans you master.

 “No matter,” Master bought it, “you will bathe and join me in the courtyard after the maids give you a tour of the castle. Please be done by breakfast, I do not like the citrus perfume they coated on you, I want to taste your natural skin.” When he left the room, the aqua-minus guards came in to escort me to the bathing area.