Chapter 3
On the other side of the portal stood a bustling city with rather small buildings. Astraea landed just outside the city, 500 meters away from a signboard that said "welcome to shadow grove". Thanks to the knowledge of the vast universe, she was able to understand many different languages.
Astraea looked around the outskirts of the city. There were many buildings that were nearly the same size as the welcome sign. They looked like several houses stacked on top of each other. They were built just a dozen or so feet away from the city.
The sun was the brightest that she had ever seen, if it wasn't for her special eyes she would be blinded. The feeling was not very good. The air was a mixture of iron and oxygen with a subtle amount of trees.
She could tell that the city had no more than 15% of vegetation. The landscape was very peculiar with strange purple plant vines that climb up the walls.
The walkways were filled with two types of two legged creatures. The first type had either golden or blood red eyes without a hint of a white in the sclera. They were super pale like a corpse and under the sun they shimmer like diamonds.
The other set of two legged creatures had a variety of human skin, running from coal to a creamy white. Their eyes range from a pure obsidian to a pale blue. They wore chained collars with link chains that were held but the corpse looking people.
Slaves? This was something that she had never seen before. Dragons didn't have slaves or rather dragons found it beneath them to enslave other dragons. But she held no doubt that if there were other creatures on Draconis, then they would be.
Both however, were startled and afraid of her massive and ferocious presence. She radiated with gruesome dominance. A thrilling sight to see. They had never seen such a beast and it was clear that Astraea could swallow the lot of them without any issue.
Hmm… I guess I should tone it down a little.
Astraea shook out her wings, sending gust of wind towards the crowd, knocking them over. Without a single glance to the fallen, she took to the sky and entered the nearby woods. Which so happened to be used as a walking trail.
As soon as she entered the woods she lauded on the trail. Many branches fell with her as the ground rumbled beneath her. Instantly she retracted her wings and stood on her hind legs.
With a slight contort, her body transformed into a human with two long and straight legs. She had a curvaceous figure, a big bust, golden skin that was blemish free. She had long coily red hair that reached her backside and deep and shimmering emerald eyes.
She stood at an unprecedented height of 7'4. Taller the the people that she had already seen thus far. Astraea's body was tight, thick and drool worthy: any gender would have lascivious thoughts towards her.
Astraea looked down at the long and thick phallus in between her legs, it swung around gently as she shook out her legs to steady herself.
She could also feel the slit that lay beneath the phallus sweat from the heat. Most dragons are born with both genitalia.
It isn't until they hit puberty around 600 to 700 years old when they choose which gender they want to be. They are much like mermaids in that regard. Some dragons in fact prefer not to choose and keep both.
She felt very uncomfortable. She wished she could find a body of water to jump into. But there doesn't seem to be any nearby.
Pity!!!
Astraea walked out of the wood, heading towards the entrance of Shadow Grove. Fortunately, she was stopped by a foot red eyed man who was followed by a short blonde woman with many bite marks all over her.
"Yo… your a Amazon, right from the Khan clan?"
" Did you need something from me?" She tilted her head with a smirk on her face.
The red eyed male had short brown hair, freckles under the eyes and a bright smile with sharp white fangs. He wore a short button down shirt, long tan pants and shiny bespoke shoes that could dazzle the masses.
It was very clear that he put more emphasis on his bedazzled footwear then anything else.
"Nothing much, just wanted to say that wearing no clothes can be a bit offensive. You should find some clothes." The man smiled. He racked his eyes over her body.
She could tell that he was very curious and wanted to ask questions but was to polite to say more.
Ahh… Astraea looked down and then at the fully clothed man and his slave. He may be right.
Eh, should I just take his?
No, it wont fit.
"Also, perhaps you should wash?" The man asked tentatively.
That… is this man saying I smell?
But… it seems to be.. haven't bathed it over 2000 years.
I've been hasty!
" Mind taking me there?" Astraea straightened her back and pushed out her bouncy chest. The man looked awkwardly away.
Clearing his throat. He nodded his head and motioned for her to follow. Without a word she followed in step next to the man. The entrance of Shadow Grove wasn't guarded like most cities would be.
Instead there were many patrolling the inside; they were all tall , slender and with red eyes. She didn't see a single golden eyed guard. She wondered what was the difference between the two eye colors.
Unlike the slaves, those two radiated the same energy its just that one was weaker inherently than the other… I. E the golden eyed.
Many of the two types of two legged creatures parted simultaneously as Astraea walked near. She wasn't sure if it was her smell or her power radiating off her that repelled them.
"What do I call you?" Astraea murmured in a low voice.
" Michael Lancaster." Michael smiled in relief. The person beside him was truly too intimidating even for a woman.
The amazons that he had met were never this nerve wrecking. They were not as tall either but one thing they did have in common with the person next to him was the genitalia. This is why Michael assumed the Astraea was an amazon.
"Can you tell me more about Shadow Grove, specifically are you and your little slave behind not of the same species?" She inquired. This was something she was very interested in.
"I am a vampire…though not of pure blood like the rest of the Lancaster's. I was sired centuries ago." Michael looked behind him at the female slave that trembled at his stare. "This.. she doesn't have a name. She was born into slavery and never received one. She is human. Like her, I was once human."
"I feed off of her most of the time but soon, I will get another and she will bear a child for me." He laughed " I already have 6, unfortunately none of their mothers survived the birth, hopefully she will."
"Vampires feed and procreate with the same creature? That's fanatical…I would never have thought of something so beastly. " Astraea's eyes were filled with disdain.
She turned her head without a word; scanning the building before her. The buildings were built less than 1 meter apart. All the buildings were a glossy white as if they were made out of marble. The lawns were neatly manicured but the lawns were green but bright pink. The windows were not sealed but opened wide for anyone to see.
Was there no privacy?
There was one particular building that wasn't uniformed like the others. This one was bright yellow with a nude trimming; it looked harmonious and friendly. Many people, both vampires and humans came and went. A "Spring Breeze" sign was sitting straight on the front door.
From the noises inside it seems like a brothel for both men and women; a leisure spot. The human slaves were very adept at pleasing their patrons. The smell coming off the place was staunchly to say the least. It wasn't very pleasant to Astraea's senses.
I wonder if dragons could mate with a human. They won't die right? I will need a lot of human female's . Maybe the slaves could be the right fit but I would still have to choose well. Forget I'll get a couple of men as well.
"The bathing house is this way. Only vampires and guests of the town are allowed in." Michael spoke to gain her attention.
The bathing house looked like an outdoor hot tub with steam rising from its surface. At some parts of the pool it bubbled and made the water hot to its highest temperature. That was exactly what Astraea needed.
Luckily there weren't many people bathing at the moment. Smiling in relief Astraea ran in and jumped into the bathing pool, sending waves everywhere. As soon as she entered the once clear water grew dirty in an instant making the water akin to tar.
Screams and yells could be heard as people hopped out of the pool in disgust. She frowned just as well not realizing just how unclean she was.
With a flick of the wrist a white energy ball flew from her hand and into the water, purifying the water. Then she flicked a yellowish red ball, which made the water heat up like a volcano, nearly erupting. It soothed her aches and knots, helping her relax and unwind.
"Woman, go get scented soap for the lady." Michael barked out.
The young slave immediately scurried away with a frightened expression. A minute later she came back throwing the scented soap in the heated water. It didn't take long before white foam broke up covering a part of the heated pool.
"Ahh, just right." Astraea moaned in delight. She ducked her head underwater, scrubbing her scalp full of tangles.
Her long coily hair drunk up the water became clean and springy. Her golden skin brightened, becoming a rosy pink. She hadn't had such a soothing bath in 2 million years. She needed to make this a regular thing. She should make a replica in her own bathing suit in the castle.