Chapter 10 - The White Snake

In the timeless expanse of Millenia, where the cosmos weaved its silken threads around the fabric of reality, the Assigner shifted upon his throne. A construct not of wood or stone, but of purpose and power, a large moving liquid of obsidian, it cradled him at the nexus of all that was and all that could ever be.

Around him, the air shimmered with light and shadow playing across the boundaries of his city. Before him lay the great book, its pages fluttering without a breeze, each leaf a chronicle of lives innumerable, destinies interlaced. The tome opened to a scene of tumultuous seas and mortal entanglements—the figures of Anchor and her kin woven into the fates of the Vlachy and the Nereids—a narrative spiraling beyond the scope of their feeble understanding. 

Vectra approached, her presence a subtle disturbance in the celestial quietude. Her skin, pale as the moon's reflection on still water, contrasted starkly with the intricate tattoos that danced across her visage—symbols of her servitude and insight. She moved with a grace that belied her formidable nature. 

"Master," she intoned, "shall I descend upon these events, weave my influence into their pattern?"

The Assigner regarded her with eyes like twin infernos, glowing amidst the serene pallor of his countenance. His silver mane cascaded down his broad shoulders, framing the sinewy strength of a form barely concealed by the simple loincloth adorning his waist.

"No," he decreed, his voice resonating with the authority that shaped the stars. "Let the Queen of the Seas take care of her."

"But Master," she implored, her voice the susurration of wind through his temple, "the pact with the Vlachy binds us. Milada must be returned here."

The Assigner's eyes blazed with an otherworldly fire, his gaze piercing through the veils of existence. With a fluidity that defied the laws of the physical realm, his form began to contort and reshape. Muscles undulated beneath skin that shifted from flesh to scale, rippling like liquid silver under a moonlit sky.

Now a Titanoboa of monumental proportions and divine presence coiled before Vectra, his white scales shimmering with the radiance of celestial bodies. Red eyes locked onto Vectra as he wrapped around her lithe figure in a tight embrace that nearly crushed her.

His serpentine tongue flickered out, a whisper of divinity that caressed her being. Each movement was a sacred rite, tracing the arcane tattoos that marked her dedication to his service. The sensation was electrifying, sending waves of ecstasy coursing through her body as the Assigner descended upon her most intimate self.

"My pact. My rules," the White Snake decreed. 

Vectra, caught in the throes of an ecstasy that was as much spiritual as it was physical, found herself at the precipice of enlightenment. Her breath hitched, a symphony of pleasure and agony intermingled, as she reached the zenith of her climax, her essence intertwining with the divine will of the Assigner.

*** 

The gentle rasp of a tiny tongue drew a chuckle from Areilycus as the baby dragon nuzzled against his cheek, its scales cool and smooth against his warming skin. His laughter was a clear sound, musical and light, resonating through the cabin of the ship. The illness that had once drained the vibrant color from his face had vanished, leaving behind an olive-gold glow that spoke of his celestial heritage.

"Easy there, little one," Ari murmured, his hands moving deftly to balance a bowl of soup on one knee and a wriggling fish in the other, offering the latter to the eager creature. It snapped up the fish with gusto, flapping its wings in delight.

Bonnie, eyes ever watchful and stance steady despite the sway of the ship, ladled another spoonful of broth and held it to Ari's lips. "You and your sister, you're close then?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she observed the intimate way he cared for the creature—a mirror, perhaps, of how his sister must care for him.

"Twins," he replied after swallowing the mouthful of soup she offered, "forged from the same stardust when our star collapsed. We are woven from the same divine powder—it's only natural we share a profound bond."

She nodded, though her brow furrowed slightly, skepticism lingering in the lines of her face. "Mila didn't hesitate to turn sky and sea to find you. Not many would dare such feats."

Ari met her gaze, a flicker of shadow passing over his bright features. 

"I know the cost of fleeing Millennia is steep," he said softly, "and I fear the ripples of her actions may reach farther than I intended, even to our siblings." His fingers paused in their play with the dragon, a momentary weight settling upon his shoulders before he shook it off, returning to the moment at hand.

"Your kin must be strong," Bonnie remarked, resuming her task of feeding him with a renewed sense of respect.

"Stronger than the very stars we hail from," Ari answered with a smile, letting the warmth of recovery and the comfort of company soothe the undercurrent of concern for what lay ahead. 

"So there's more of you," Her spoon hovered mid-air, a droplet of soup suspended like a gem.

Ari's laughter mingled with the dragon's playful snorts, their mirth swirling together in the cozy cabin. 

"Of course there is!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with an inner light that seemed to brighten the room. The baby dragon mimicked him, its tiny wings fluttering joyfully.

"Milada, she's our anchor amid the chaos," Ari began, his hand tracing a swirl in the air as if to conjure her essence. "She can stir the tempest and calm it just the same."

"Ah, and then there's me," he continued, touching his chest with modest pride, "Bearer of Light, always seeking to illuminate the dark corners of existence, protecting life at all cost."

"Next is Cleo, tender of the wilds, keeper of the green and growing things." His voice took on a reverent tone, and for a moment, it seemed as if the wood grains of the ship itself leaned in to listen. "Cleopatra, she's Nature herself, guardian of plants and animals, goddess of all possessions … A bit of a kleptomaniac if you ask Mila," he smirked.

"Rosum—our pillar of Reason. He's the one who keeps us aligned, a practical thinker maintaining the status quo," Ari said, his hand flat and steady, embodying Rosum's equilibrium.

"Bara thrives in Conflict, a passionate enticer, sparking change where stagnancy reigns." A glint of admiration twinkled in Ari's eye. Bonnie took it to mean Bara was his favorite beside Mila.

"Las, dear Lasicus, is pure Emotion. He feels the world deeply, an empath who can barely contain the tides within himself." Ari's voice softened, a gentle undertone of protectiveness threading through his words.

"Lastly, Volmira, who dwells in Peace—a neutral, non-thinker who exists in serene balance." Ari's gesture was one of levelling, palms parallel and calm as still waters.

"Each of us, facets of the divine," he concluded, his gaze returning to Bonnie with a wisdom beyond his youthful appearance. "Together we form a constellation of purpose, each star shining its unique light across Millennia and beyond."

Bonnie petted the dragon's wings and sighed to herself. "What did Edward get us into?" 

Bonnie's words were snatched away by a sudden gust as the Gollian Bay churned into a frenzy, the once gentle lapping of waves against The Lioness turning into violent convulsions. The boat shuddered beneath their feet, eliciting a startled yelp from the dragonling that Ari cradled protectively.

"Below deck, now!" Bonnie commanded, her voice slicing through the mounting chaos like a blade. "Keep the hatchling safe!"

Before Ari could protest, she was already dashing towards the commotion, her heart thundering in tandem with the panicked rhythm of Captain Kinsley's orders piercing the air.

"Batten down the hatches! Hoist the mainsail!" 

Ari hesitated, torn between the instinct to fight alongside them and the duty Bonnie had entrusted him with. He looked down at the baby dragon's wide, fearful eyes and knew he couldn't abandon his charge. With a heavy heart, he descended into the belly of the ship, the infant creature's scales warm against his chest.

On the top deck, Bonnie emerged into pandemonium. Ropes whipped about as the crew scrambled, struggling against the ship's violent dance. At the helm stood Mila, her silhouette a steadfast beacon in the turmoil, shoulder-to-shoulder with Captain Kinsley as they fought to steady The Lioness.

Kinsley growled, his hands white-knuckled on the wheel. The sea witches taunted from just beyond reach, their figures distorted shadows amidst the swirling waters.

"Can they sink us?" Mila yelled over the roar, her stance unwavering despite the deck pitching beneath her boots.

"Those sea hags?" Edward spat out saltwater as he joined her side. "Neppie cast a shield around this beauty before he left us. Salacia's minions can thrash all they want—The Lioness won't bow to their whims."

Mila's gaze fixed on the malicious specters as they cavorted within the maelstrom, their loathsome intent clear in the cacophony of the storm. She clenched her fists, the weight of destiny pressing upon her shoulders, yet she did not flinch.

"Then let them tire themselves," Mila said with defiant resolve. She would not be cowed by servants, nor would she allow fear to dictate the fate of those under her protection.

Bonnie took her place beside Mila, both women staring into the eye of the tempest. 

Mila's silhouette cut a stark figure against the chaos of the sea as she stood on the hull, her gaze piercing through the tempest. The veins around her eyes pulsed with an otherworldly crimson, casting eerie shadows on her face. Her voice, now a deep and resonant timbre, carried over the wind and waves, 

"I command you to cease this senseless assault!"

The sirens emerged from the frothy tumult, their forms grotesque parodies of beauty. 

Their skin, pallid and puckered like drowned corpses, hung loosely upon their malformed bodies. Jagged teeth jutted from their gaping maws, and their hair, entwined with seaweed and debris, whipped around them like banshee wails made visible. Eyes, devoid of soul or warmth, glared balefully at Mila, reflecting neither light nor mercy.

"Celestial," one siren hissed, her voice a guttural screech that scraped at the ears, "we are not your subjects to command. Come willingly to our Queen, and these mortals you so cherish will be spared."

Edward grasped Mila's arm. "It's a snare. I need you here, the bitch queen knows I need you!" 

Before Mila could respond, Ari burst onto the deck, his expression set in lines of fierce determination. Side by side they stood, mirror images of defiance. 

"We've never backed down from a fight," Ari declared, his own eyes now mirroring Mila's incandescent rage. "I think it's time we look into their conflict if we have any chance of solving it." 

The sirens, sensing the unyielding spirit of the celestial twins, let out a cacophony of discordant wails, but Ari and Mila remained undaunted when they dived head first into the cold water, allowing the tails of the sirens pull them toward the sea floor.