Shifting power

Sarcos went to the Crystal City market. He saw Sharchan looking at the weapons." King Sharchan..." he greeted him."King Sarcos, you are still here?"Asked Sharchan with his eyes turned into narrow slits, "It is my time with the queen."

"I know," Sarcos nodded."I still have some dealings with Magnus, so I will be taking my leave tomorrow night. I like to talk to you in private." Sharchan nodded and they went to sit in a secluded area in the gardens behind the market. "What is it ?" asked Sharchan bluntly. Sarcos looked at him."Why are you not levelling up?"

Sharchan furrowed his brows." I'm not sure the queen will like it. "

"Well, ask her then. It is not good for you to keep hibernating."Sarcos said. He knew Sharchan was a bit of a lazy snake and that was the real reason. He liked to hibernate. Sharchan nodded."Why are you suddenly so interested?"

Sarcos looked at him like a teacher scolding a student. "It is your king's duty to be the strongest you can be, is it not? Also when you still hibernate, any cold weather can make you fall asleep. That is not good. "Sarcos said coldly."Your brother acquired a freezing crystal from the Northern Mermaid tribe, you should be wary."

Sharchan looked at him surprised."How would you know?"

"It is my business to know. I'm the Scorpion King. "Sarcos said darkly. "You and Tyrell became my family as well, so is in my best interest to keep you safe. I want the queen to be happy. Don't you just like it when she smiles so sweetly?"

Sharchan nodded and jealousy clenched his heart again." I will be off, I have to pick the queen up from her dance lesson," he said, but his voice sounded collected. He was calmer when talking with Sarcos. It was probably his dangerous aura, which made Sharchan to calm down. He felt he can trust him but he was wary of him. It was some mystery about Sarcos, which made Sharchan feel strange at the same time. Like Sarcos is something else as well, he doesn't show off to anyone.

Meanwhile, in the dance school, Sienna was faced with surprised stares."You missed the lessons for four days." said Rossella. "I'm sorry, I was in the Sand City."Sienna said."

"Getting a new king."Amara smiled cheekily."The ,,Walking Death,, Sarcos."

"I was thinking that your choices were strange before, but this is over the top. You really surprised us." Zeldya noted.

"Are you having like a dangerous mate collection, or what?" asked Twidalli.

"Are you jealous?"Sienna asked sweetly."Sarcos is actually amazing, but to me only. I love him." Sienna changed into a dancing dress."And he actually made a great cosmetic for me."

"He can make cosmetics?"Amara was surprised.

"He is a scorpion."Twidalli shook her head. "They all are good at chemistry. I think is one of their traps how to lure females in."

"I want a mate who can make cosmetics for me too," Amara whined.

"Well, go to Sand City to pick one. They are quite handsome." Sienna laughed. "Or wait till they come here for markets. We have alliance now, so the tribes can mingle freely."

"Hm, ok, you are forgiven then," said Amara."It is good you helped the city make an alliance then."

Sienna nodded. These girls had sharp tongues but were quite nice anyway. She turned around to went to the dance room.

"Everyone look!"Twidalli called. She pointed at the golden scorpion on Sienna's lower back, which was visible in the cropped dancing top.

The girls just stared at it."We never saw a scorpion mark before. It actually looks good," Amara said."Did it hurt a lot? Can I touch it?"

"Rather not," said Sienna. "Sarcos put some poison antidotes under it, so I'm not sure what does it do."

The girls stood quiet. Poison antidotes under a mark. They never heard of that. This must be a really special mark then.

"Let's dance," said Twidalli.

The girls hurry after Sienna into the dance room and started the stretching exercises. Then Nefari came as well and Sienna gave her a quick hug. She liked Nefari a lot but she did not talk much to her lately. Nefari seemed deep in her thoughts like something was pressing on her down, Sienna hoped she will open up later on about it.

Sienna practised her dancing and was thinking about Sarcos. His dark eyes got stuck in her mind. She hoped Sharchan will let her see him in the gardens at least.

She hoped to chat with Nefari as well, but she went away quickly straight after the lesson. Sienna sighed and sat in the small garden outside to wait for Sharchan.

Meanwhile in the rocky cave inside of the deep blue sea." How long we have?" the king of the Light Sea mermaid tribe Nelius asked his Right Hand, the old mage Quin. "One and half months." the old wrinkly magician replied. The young merman barged into the cave. "I love Nefari. You can't do this to her! She is the most beautiful and talented mermaid we have." the mermaid prince Hector exclaimed loudly. His voice was full of emotions. The king looked at him with a sad gaze in his cold grey eyes."Is nothing we can do about it. It is the price our tribe has to pay once every 10 years. It ensures our prosperity and safety." "But it will cost us Nefari life!" the prince replied."Let's ask for help from the other tribes, they might have some ideas on how to kill it." King Nelius frowned his brows, he was too proud to ask for help, "It is impossible. It is too strong. Look, Nefari got her last wish, to travel the land and sing. In about five weeks she will return to pay the price. This matter is closed. Speak no more of it." Hector clenched his fist and stormed out of the cave. He will fight for Nefari even if it will cost him his life.

Far away, in Crystal City, Sharchan came to pick up Sienna. She smiled at him and went to give him a kiss and a hug." Would you like to stroll through the markets a bit?" he asked her."Yes," Sienna's eyes lit up. Sharchan seemed to cool down a bit, so Sienna held his hand and they strolled around the stalls slowly. Sienna did not almost notice, that they came back to their old house.

"Do you want to rest here a bit?" Sharchan asked. Sienna nodded, she liked that little house at the river, it was more private and quieter than the castle. Sharchan let Sienna in. His eyes shone wildly. The house was actually redecorated and there were fruits on the table and some cooked food as well.

Sienna looked around in awe. It was so nice inside.

"Who is taking care of this house?"Sienna asked.

"Tyrell."Sharchan said."He always keeps some fruits here as well, in case you come in and are hungry."

Sienna was touched." That is so sweet, how did he know, we are coming?" she pointed at the fresh and still hot food on the table." I knew we will be coming," Sharchan smiled sneakily. Sienna looked at him...and knew what is going on straight away." He brought me here to mate!" she thought.

"How nice of you, she smiled sweetly, let's eat then."She sat down and started to munch down on cooked rice and peaches. Sharchan sat next to her and watched her eat. He was thinking.

"Sienna how would you feel if I decide to level up my strength?" he asked her carefully.

"Of course my love, I will not stop you."she nodded her head.

"It could change my appearance," he said. Sienna nodded." I would love you anyway. Would you grow a beard or horns perhaps?"She smiled cheekily.

Sharchan shooked his head.

"Whatever you will look like I will love you. But we should make a password to make sure I know is really you if you be very different or I don't see you change."She said.

Sharchan nodded."I think of something."

Sienna smiled."But you still will have a human form, yes?" Sharchan nodded. "The change affects the spirit animal form mostly."

"Good, because I do need you to have a human form."Sienna giggled. She finished her food and felt relaxed. She started to tease Sharchan a bit. She wanted to see how long he will continue to pretend he took her there just to rest.

Sharchan looked into her blue eyes. She smiled at him like a cheeky tigress and he started to feel that even the air around them changed into a feromone charged cloud. Sharchan took Sienna's hand and kissed it gently. He kept pulling her hand slowly, till Sienna almost fell off the chair. Then he leaned toward her and pulled her completely to sit on his knees. Sienna looked into his eyes."You are so sneaky snake."