A Coup or Not

The Dragon King refusing to believe Eldest prince dead decided to interrogate any who survived while Uncle Feng looked over Dishi's corpse. Da-Xia was given the task of placing Princess Bai under house arrest. All within Bai's palace were dragged out as if they were nothing more than common criminals. Bai didn't bat an eye as they were executed before her.

"What are you thinking?" Camellia asks.

Before I can answer one of the mortal guard's rushes in gasping as he speaks, "His majesty requests your presence," he doesn't need to specify which one of us the King is summoning. "Stay here and continue the search," I pause at the threshold, "although I doubt, you'll find anything." Camellia only bows before turning back to the letter she was reading.

I don't bother to wait for the guard instead I shadow walk to the prison below the King's chambers reserved primarily for his entertainment. Only one of the rebels remains the rest having either bleed to death or swallowed their tongues.

"You called," I greet as the King steps to the side. A male with fish-like eyes looks at me or more like through me.

"They all refuse to speak," the King's irritation making him sound like a petulant child.

"Truth is, if you'd let me interrogate them," I walk towards the male whose scent is of salt and fish, "this would have ended hours ago. But instead like a petulant child, you insisted on doing things your way."

"Crimson…

"I wasn't done," I cut him off if only because getting a rise out of him is amusing, "You expect me to enter a mind that's already broken. There is little point to that" I wrap my claws around the male's throat and snap.

"He was the last rebel," the King growls.

"But not the mastermind," a voice like winters touch says. I turn to find all three of my past paramours standing at the prisons open gate.

"I was getting to that," I say still finding the sight of all three together unsettling.

"Not quick enough," Ryan says honey-green eyes lingering longer than needed.

"There are two people you need to gather," I say before Ryan can speak, "Princess Bai and Concubine Tamara."

"Concubine Tamara just lost her mother and husband," Lim the King's advisor protest, "you cannot think she had something to do with this."

"Continue to stall and I'll think you're the mastermind," my smiles predatory, "Oh but I forgot you lack a brain."

Lim looks as if I'd struck him while the King ignores him and has Bai and Tamara brought in. The later sobbing hysterically.

"Do you wish to do the honors or should I?" I ask the Dark King.

"Ladies first," I walk towards Bai her mind is too easy to enter as it lacks any barriers. While there are many things in it nothing marks her for treason.

I move on to Tamara who flinches away. Truth be, I don't need to look you in the eye to enter your mind and so as she curls into a ball, I plunge into her mind destroying the walls of coral she's built. She wanted to be Queen her mother made her marry as a concubine. Bai was to be her scapegoat that's why the assassins wore the Koi Clans emblems.

"Your turn," I say pulling away from such a twisted mind for if this is only the surface then what is beneath. Ryan nods before looking at Tamara then Bai after a minute lifts a hand and without touching Tamara has her stand.

I don't need to force Tamara to look at me, yet I do if only because the extent of my power is unknown to most. "Speak the truth and may you swallow your lies."

Tamara looks up she tries to fight it but it's no use with the combined force of Ryan's power and my own she's useless.

"I am worth more than some Koi yet you and mother arrange my marriage as a mere concubine." she stops as if fighting it, "I should be Queen, had these fools succeeded I would be Empress of the Siren and Dragon Realms," she swallows gasping for breath.

"Why?" the King asks.

"I am better than all of you," she croaks, I strike her.

"So much so that you can hardly breathe," I strike her once more, "you shouldn't have wasted your tears. Do tell me how someone who uses others for their greed, can be better than anyone?"

"I am a princess of the sea."

"You say it as if it ever meant anything," she screams as I fill her mind with nightmares some of her own, some realities she's never seen. Her screams fill the cell as her mind shatters. Ryan lets her fall but I do not stop, I stay in her mind until there is nothing left to break.

"It seems the Siren's will seek retribution," Alexander says as I collapse against Ryan. I haven't used this much energy since the last war each time it's draining.

"Let them," the Dragon King says as Tamara's body is dragged away, "send her people her head and prepare our troops for war."

Whoever was tasked with carrying out the order I do not know for I collapse.

###

I wake to find I've been bathed and placed in my bed. My head feels as if I'd had too much to drink, I try to sit up, but find my body feels too heavy.

"Careful," a voice like cool midnight says as I attempt to sit up once more, "you used too much energy."

"So, lend me yours," I whisper for it is all I can manage.

"I see you only want me when it's convenient."

"Prick."

"Save your energy, Alexander's getting you a meal."

As if summoned Alexander enters my chamber a servant in hand before I can protest, he slits her throat. The hunger's overwhelming, I let it take over and feed.

"You stopped feeding," Alexander's tone is accusatory.

"Explains her state," Enrique's voice reminds me of winter. I drop the servant and look up at them as frost lines the chamber walls.

"As far as their concern my power is minimal," I growl if only because having all three in such proximity is unnerving.

When the hunger asks for more and all that's left are your three exes how do you choose? Luckily, I don't have to pick Ryan places his wrist against my mouth and I feed savoring the sweetness of his blood. Along with the darkness the power that makes me feel as if I was born anew.

"Stop," he commands but I don't want to, "I said stop," he pulls his wrist away leaving me hollow.

"Aren't I glad I didn't volunteer," Alex picks up the servant and tosses her over his shoulder, "don't worry I'll tell them I got carried away."

"Fools, all of you fools."

"Your welcome," Ryan says taking a seat near my bed, "oh no problem happy to help," he mimics. Alex freezes at the door Enrique tenses deciding he'll help Alex carry out the dead girl. Leaving us alone.

"I haven't seen you in over a hundred years do not show up and play the victim," he just stares infuriating me more I move to strike him but he catches my wrist spinning me around, my back pressing against his chest. "You never came back."

"I did," his voice is barely a whisper, "You didn't want to see me."

"Where did you get such a notion?"

"The messenger you sent," he lets go, "it was one of your uncles."

"And you blindly believed him?"

"Per the treaty, I can only enter the Dragon Realm with an invitation, it would have been an act of war."

I don't look at him there's no use, there is truth in his words there always has been. With a snap of my fingers, anything belonging to me has been shrunk down to the size of an acorn and attached to the bangle on my left wrist. I no longer wear a nightgown but rather leather, I don't need armor for only Shadows can kill Shadows.

The earth shakes as I make my way to the throne room where reports are being read out in regards to Dishi and the Siren Queen's death. The sky roars as rain pours the wind howling as Shadows seep into every crevice. The guards don't have time to think let alone act as their minds shattered. Shadow flame engulfing their essence. I reach out to Da-Xia, "bring Bai to the throne room."

"Why?" she sends back.

"It's time we all went home."

The Dragon King looks up as the doors to the throne room fling of their edges, "What is the meaning of this?" one look at Ryan is all the King needs to realize the ruse is up.

"How long did you think you could fool me?" I snap my fingers and the King's advisor collapses. "Due tell dearest uncle how long did you intend on using me?"

"It was for your benefit," the King's voice is filled with certainty that he won't die. I don't need to look to know the archers he had placed have turned to dust, of course, he doesn't know that. Shadow frost coats the floor and makes its way up the walls, "stop this!" Silver and Ash now stand with their blades to the Dragon King's throat.

"No," I send out a wave of energy that shakes the earth, "it's time the Shadow Realm be restored a trade must be made."

"Perhaps we can come to an accord," Ryan speaks for the first time since we left my palace, "trust me," he sends.

"Go on then," I send back.

"You may live," Ryan stalls long enough for the ministers to gain hope, "but you will not ask for aid. When your people question the slaughter tell them you betrayed the Shadow and Dark Realms."

The look of disbelief of absurdity the King gives us is laughable.

"He thinks the Koi will aid him," I say, "truth be they never agreed to Bai's marriage, as far as they were aware, they thought their daughter had died during a raid by your clansmen."

"The Koi are now aware their daughter lives," Ryan says just as Da-Xia escorts Bai in, "and are marching onto your lands as we speak."

"Absurd! Princess Bai came here of her own accord."

"Did she?" I ask removing the glamour placed on the princess.

"Where am I?" Bai asks her eyes clearing.

"You are, in the Dragon Realm," I say, "you married into the Dragon Clan."

"That can't be," Bai shakes her head as finally clarity settles, "I am betrothed to the Bear Tribe."

"Not anymore," I say, "you are married to the Dragon King's eldest son well actually you are now his widow. See when I entered her mind, I found it odd that Bai had no shields set."

"She wasn't the only one, you promised Tamara she could be your Queen bedded her then gave her to your son," Ryan says.

"You did this to yourself," Alexander interjects as he enters with Camellia at his heels, "It's time to go."

"Well?"

"You planned this all along," the Dragon King accuses, "after all I've done."

"What do you think will happen, when all learn you colluded with the Witch Queen Nathalia?" Alexander asks as I pick up on the not too distant sound of war drums.

"I'll take this as your declaration of war," the Dragon King says as wolves howl.

"Take it as you will," I say as the walls begin to crumble.

"Crimson...

Ignoring him, I start to engulf myself in shadow leaving the Dragon Realm behind.