15: Carmen
Though the happiness was short lived. Orion and Rhaëlya both felt it. The mana in the air has shifted. Though they called it mana, it was only because Rhaëlya felt more familiar with it.
She read a few novels in the past so she had an idea of what it was, though Orion called it 'Energy' instead. It worked just like mana.
Still, the mana went from being barely noticeable to nearly burning their skin off. That cannot be a good sign.
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Deep inside the cave, a scorpion beastwoman opened her eyes from her slumber. She's been hibernating for the past few days. Though she didn't need to, she was bored, so she slept.
She stirred and yawned while admiring her beautiful, and deadly tail. But that wasn't why she woke up. She felt a presence in her territory.
Carmen rose to her full height, exoskeletal plates catching the faint luminescence of the cave's crystals. Her tail flicked lazily behind her, a deceptively calm motion for something so lethal.
The air buzzed, tingling her nerves like a coming storm. She clicked her tongue. "Trespassers. And they reek of... power?.."
She stretched, then leapt effortlessly from her rocky perch, tail arched over her shoulder like a loaded weapon. With each step toward the cave's mouth, the tingling in the air grew stronger.
Outside, Rhaëlya narrowed her eyes. "You feel that, Orion?"
Orion's voice rang smooth in her mind. "Oh yes. And I don't like it."
The moment they stepped closer to the cave entrance, the air cracked, like the space itself was protesting their presence. And then she saw her.
Carmen appeared from the shadows like a wraith, eyes glowing faint amber, flaming red hair wild and coiled with tension. She didn't ask questions. She lunged.
Rhaëlya dodged just in time, ice forming beneath her sneakers as she slid to the side. Carmen's tail slammed into the stone where she'd stood, sending shards flying.
"Not here to fight, but I will." Rhaëlya warned, electricity flickering over her hands.
Carmen hissed, circling her. "You entered my den. You breathe my air. And you dare threaten me with thunder?"
"Technically, you attacked first," Orion chirped from behind, already forming into a semi-humanoid form with glowing jelly limbs. "Rude." It said while glaring.
They clashed again, Rhaëlya throwing a bolt of ice at Carmen's legs, Carmen responding with a feint and her tail striking from the side. It was more a dance than a battle. Testing each other's limits, probing for weakness.
But then, mid-lunge, Carmen paused. Her gaze lingered on Rhaëlya's form, the faint glow under her skin, the momentary flicker of something not entirely beast nor human. Fascination replaced fury.
"You... you're not just a beastwoman, are you?"
Rhaëlya scoffed, lips pressed into a smirk. "Does it matter?"
Carmen took a slow step forward, tail finally lowering. "It does. Because you just became the most interesting thing I've seen in years."
There was silence.
Then Carmen's expression shifted again, less hunter, more intrigued predator.
"Marry me." She said.
Orion coughed, somehow, and Rhaëlya blinked. "What?"
"You heard me." Carmen tilted her head, the wicked curve of her tail tapping the ground thoughtfully. "You're strong, you're pretty, and you didn't die when I attacked you. That's wife material."
Rhaëlya stared at her.
Orion muttered, "Well that escalated fast."
Then Orion decided to leave these two crazy madwomen alone and simply disappeared into Rhaëlya's space. Not that Carmen would know where she went.
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Outside the cave, Crypt and Azrakai were frantically searching for a way in. They needed to save her. Especially Crypt, who felt that his mate was in danger.
And inside the cave, Rhaëlya exhaled slowly, brushing stray ice crystals off her arms.
Her energy was flickering, she could hold her own against the scorpion, sure, but she'd prefer not to do it twice in one day.
Carmen, on the other hand, looked thrilled.
"Where are you going, mate?" she purred, falling into step beside Rhaëlya as the woman turned toward the cave's mouth.
Her tail swayed casually behind her, clearly no longer interested in combat. Unless someone else wanted to challenge her claim.
"I'm not your mate." Rhaëlya muttered.
"Yet." Carmen said smugly.
Orion's voice hummed in her mind like a smug whisper. "She moves fast. Honestly, I kinda admire her energy. Want me to scan her for potential compatibility?"
"Please don't." Rhaëlya muttered under her breath.
"Oh, speaking to your little voice?" Carmen grinned, clearly not offended. "That's cute. I hope they like me, too."
"Not yet," Orion said with a mischievous lilt. "But she grows on you. Like a rash. A very stabby rash."
They reached the surface, sunlight piercing through the trees, and there, just at the edge of the clearing, stood two familiar figures.
Crypt, emerald eyes sharp and slitted, moved first.
His tail flicked behind him, his stance poised, protective. "Bloom." he breathed, relief softening his eyes for only a moment before they narrowed again, eyes locking on Carmen.
Azrakai followed, slower, deliberate. His deep blue-black hair glistened under his open tunic, and his gaze darted between Rhaëlya and the scorpion female stuck to her side like a shadow.
"Crypt, Azrakai," Rhaëlya greeted wearily. "I'm fine. No need for a dramatic rescue."
Carmen leaned into her, placing a hand gently, possessively, on Rhaëlya's lower back. "They're cute. Yours?"
Crypt's jaw twitched. "Who are you?"
"Carmen," she said sweetly. "Your mate's future mate."
Azrakai blinked slowly. "That's… fast."
"She fought me and didn't die. That's all I needed." Carmen said cheerfully. "She's strong. Smart. Beautiful. And I like the way her ice sings through the air. So, yes. I'm staying."
Crypt's voice turned cold. "She's already mated."
"Oh, I know," Carmen replied with a wink. "The snake mark, right? I smelled it the moment I got close. You hid it well. But not from me."
Rhaëlya rubbed her temple. "Carmen-"
"I know, I know. 'Too fast, you're insane, give me space' blah blah blah heard it all before." She mimicked in a mocking tone.
Carmen tilted her head. "But I'm patient. I'll court you properly. For now, I'm staying close. Just in case you get into more trouble."
"And because she clearly wants to wrap you in her tail and drag you off." Orion added quietly in her mind.
"I hate you." Rhaëlya thought.
"You love me." Orion replied smugly. "And this is way more entertaining than your usual broody wanderings."
Azrakai's eyes flicked to Carmen again, his jaw tight. Then his gaze moved to Rhaëlya's face, trying to see if the beastwoman was telling the truth or not.
Crypt, still tense, said nothing. His gaze never left Carmen, and hers never wavered under his stare.
She smiled wider. "Snakes and scorpions, right? Never liked each other. But maybe we'll learn to get along. For her."
Rhaëlya groaned. "This is going to be a long day."