snakethroat

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - The Sapphire Candidate (Part 6/88)

~Mature Content~

Summary - There were few things in this life that were more driven than death: new gods, wild dogs, and Charlotte Vestiz.

Content - (SPOILERS) Drinking, Sex Scene, F/F

Vore - Non-Vore, Vague Mentions

Word Count: 2982

Being the oldest of her family meant she had to make a name for them. What they had was wealth and in a world like this, that counted for a lot. But if there was any hope for them to claim the crown, that wouldn’t be enough. Her one goal for the night was to make a lasting impression on the sitting Crown. She couldn’t be sure how true it was that the sitting crown influenced who Sapphire would pick but it couldn’t hurt. Making a name for the Vestiz’s was her top priority despite how much it would hurt. 

Charlotte was dressed in the finest dress money could buy. She doubted anyone would truly be impressed. It was like a prerequisite. But the guide had told her dozens of things she could do to impress the Crown. If given the chance she'd try every one. Her look was the first thing she could perfect. That was not hard; most nobles would do it anyway, even if they weren’t gunning for the crown. 

The only thing she had difficulty adjusting to was being alone. There was an unwritten rule that you could not be courting anyone. It was the one part of lying about herself that she had trouble withstanding. Still, she split off from Zoe because her future depended on it. 

Her secondary wish was that she would not have to face Zoe in person. With the snow quickly piling up, Charlotte could bet on a few nights without that hindering her. She couldn’t even bear to tell her love the news in person. How could she face her now?

Charlotte stepped out of the carriage. The biting cold of the north hardly stopped her in this enormous dress. Only her face could feel a thing, and after hours of recycling her own air in the back of the ride, it was refreshing. Cadence helped her down from the grand carriage. Like most places, this castle was run by preds. She had grown used to it. Truthfully, it wasn’t anywhere near the monstrous nature of the cruel empire. Perhaps that's why her limit of how much disrespect she could take was so high. It would never touch the range of horror across the forest.

The great doors parted before her, and she was once again swamped in warmth as she stepped inside the foyer. The castle was far beyond the likes of what she was used to. Despite sort of coming from money, Charlotte had never lived in luxury like this. She was merely a cut above the rest. Her newfound wealth had developed from her family’s ability to wield magic. For some reason or another, it was all but unheard of in their modern times. So, although they could look down on the fact that she was new money, the fact that she was prey, the fact that Charlotte Vestiz was her family’s one shot at having a name, they couldn’t ignore the undeniable truth that her ability made her indispensable. It was this reason she bothered to try at all.

“My lady.” The doorman bowed.

Charlotte smiled at the man as she stepped past him. Though it was her first time attending the blue moon festival, it was not her first time in the castle. So she walked with purpose, it had already darkened outside, giving the fallen snow a bluish hue, and that meant more than likely, the crown would be greeting people, so she’d have her chance. 

As Charlotte entered the grand hall, she noted the dozens of people all mingling amongst each other, but scanning the room, she saw no sign of the monarch. Another moment, then. She found a corner to stand by herself, not wanting to join anyone’s conversation. She didn’t much care for lesser connections she only had the patience for one. She stood there, picking at her polished nails for several minutes before accepting that it may be a while before she would speak to Mazra. 

Despite the many bodies, the room was not particularly packed, and so she made her way across it with ease to reach the table of food. That would take her mind off of waiting. She looked over the many goods that no one else seemed to be touching. Plates piled with fruits, pastries, even cold meats and alcohol. Just as she was about to select something to fill the void in her mind, a girlish laugh sounded from the door. She looked over at the balcony door, merely cracked to allow air flow. Yet something about it drew her outside. She opened the door and stood in the cold just to listen. 

The cold air washed over her once more. The stone was devoid of snow except on the rails where it was uncovered from above. The laugh sounded again and she realized someone must be sitting in the garden below her. She drew closer still to the sound and when she saw two people sitting on a bench tucked against the castle wall, she identified what was so enticing about it. It was Zoe’s laugh but the girl was laughing with some strange man who she leaned against.

She had assumed Zoe would take another few days to arrive. She was even further north than this, but somehow the weather had not halted her. “I don’t know about that. I think she may be angry with me. I'm not even sure if she's here tonight.” Charlotte paused at the assumption that she must be hearing about herself. Zoe spilled away all their passion to some man. Some stranger. Yet she could not bring herself to be angry. How could she be? How could she ever? She loved Zoe and though was easy to deny it to other people she could feel it burning within her. Passion. Desire. That was the truth behind her distance, denial. 

“Perhaps you could stand to forget her then?” He moved a hand to hers, “Just for tonight.” Charlotte felt sick as she let a gasp. She shouldn’t. The problem had solved itself and yet that nauseating feeling ate away at her insides. Worried that she may have exposed her eavesdropping, she retreated from the cold, from their words.

When she returned to the warmth of the indoors, Charlotte considered a drink. After what she just heard, she could really use it. But she had to be sober when she met the sitting Crown. And a drink might make her do something regretful. 

Charlotte walked past the drinks and instead opted for a dessert. She stood there for a long while considering her options. She had never been afforded the luxuries that awaited her in the palace. It was a whole new world to be opened up to. No one else seemed the least bit impressed with the grandness of the party. For many of them, it was not their first time here. 

She was both in great envy and pity for those who had done the song and dance before. She couldn't help but feel like they had a leg up on her but Charlotte also knew how difficult the coming days would be. She was grown for her first party but most were not so lucky, mere kids who had been forced to play the part. But she also knew how much harder it was to be hungry. Growing up without that was something she'd always be jealous of.

With her chance to rectify that in front of her, Charlotte selected a doughy sugared treat from the lineup. The pastry on the stick was sickeningly sweet on her tongue. She had never had something with so much sugar concentrated. She looked around for somewhere else to spit it out, but begrudgingly swallowed. She scoured the table for water, but despite how fully it was covered in drinks, not a single one of them appeared to be water. She grabbed a yellow-orange juice and downed it to wash the awful taste from her throat. The drink was sweet too, but not sickeningly so, it had a bitterness to it. It felt like it had burned away her doubting thoughts that feared she was losing Zoe for no good reason. She would be a failure as a lover and a daughter. She reached for another glass and downed it as well. The peace was well worth it.

“Big fan, Lottie?” Charlotte whipped her head around and saw her. Zoe. She practically slammed the glass back down, turning away from the girl. Not tonight. They could talk, but not tonight. “What, you’ve already ignored me for weeks, but you can’t talk to me for one night?”

“Zoe…” She had so many things she wanted to say to her. I missed you, you must know that, right? I didn’t want to. I had no choice. I love you. But before she could get any of it out, the gathering crowd caught her eye. She turned to scarcely catch a glimpse of the crystal blue dress with matching blue jewels. It was Mazra. She turned back to Zoe and the girl, seeing what she saw, had a defeated look on her face. “I’m sorry,” was all she managed before scrambling to join the crowd.

Being small came with so few advantages, but one was her ability to get through a crowd. She pushed past many skirts under many elbows to better see the Crown. She truly was a marvel in the glistening thing. She stopped to speak to a pred, Charlotte recognized as Lady Iridessa. Not just old money, ancient. There family needed no introduction and yet there she was hogging this woman’s time. She moved to get closer and actually speak to Mazra, but a single gloved hand pushed her back. “Move, girl.” The pred said as he made his way to the crown. Charlotte seethed internally at his rudeness. She realized how much more cramped she felt as more folks gathered.

Suddenly, she became aware of her own comparative size as she was being crushed by more bodies pressing further near the highly sought woman. Charlotte opted to pull herself away from the crowd before she had the life squeezed out of her. As she did so, many stepped on her bejeweled, expensive gown, and ruffled her perfectly strung up hair. She could feel it coming apart. The look was essential to her success, foundational, so she thought to rush herself to the nearest bathroom.

The huge door was so heavy that she thought it must be locked at first. When she got inside it became immediately clear that she would not be able to properly use the mirror which hardly showed her face from where it sat atop the counter on the wall. Charlotte grabbed the edge of the counter-top and using the drawers for footing hoisted herself onto it to better see what she was working with. She could already tell the dress mostly fine from the front. Her hair had only allowed a few curls to spring loose mostly it was sealed too tight to be any worse. 

After fixing her appearance Charlotte looked at herself in the mirror. She saw a beautiful elegant woman looking back at her but she didn't feel like one. She felt like a very small pathetic girl trapped in a suffocating dress. Perhaps that’s just what she was. The thought almost brought her to tears until a pair entered the bathroom and she composed herself.

“…I mean I don’t see how she could.” One of the preds said. One leaned against the wall while the other adjusted her appearance in the mirror beside Charlotte. Neither payed her any mind. “What could a prey do in a war like this. She has to choose someone stronger, Mari’s a fool if she really thinks a little handshake is going to get her foot in the door.” Charlotte jumped from the counter and walked out of the bathroom  barely able to stifle her tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of them. She looked and the monstrous crowd surely surrounding Mazra and realized how hopeless her situation was.

But in that moment she didn’t care about her stupid reputation or making a flawless impression. She turned around and left the crowd flooding Mazra. When she came back to the window that overlooked the garden where she found Zoe sitting. She grabbed her by the collar and she kissed her. Hard. Zoe only had the chance to look shocked for the smallest moment before she kissed back. Despite the stupid dresses they were both wearing, the icy wind seeping in beside them, and the fact that Charlotte was surely squandering her chance, they just continued on tasting each other. Even if it was getting hard to breathe to Lottie it was like Zoe was her oxygen. Like she would surely die if she pulled away from her embrace too soon. Eventually though, she did pull back. “They gave you a room?” Zoe smiled that sweet mischievous smile. That irresistible woman pulled her away from the window. The two of them left the ballroom to a quieter part of the castle.

As she led her down the hallway. Zoe checked their surroundings. Before, it had been Lottie showing Zoe how to ditch parties. She wondered if in any of the Balls she missed Zoe had left. She pushed the thought back as Zoe paused in the corridor. She peered around a corner before turning back to her and nodding as if to say, the coast is clear, darling. She would happily follow where her love went and her lack of discernment made her question if that drink really was soft. As they plowed on, the hallways grew quiet. The sounds of the party were distant and every door seemed it could lead to a bedroom. Zoe stopped at one toward the end of the hall and pressed it open. “M’lady,” she bowed.

Lottie entered the pretty room. Nearly everything in it was blue but the moon layered everything in an extra cool hue. Lottie turned and grabbed Zoe’s hand and pushed her to the bed. “Want me to get this off for you, my lady?” Zoe said nothing as she took Lottie’s hands and guided them to the back of her dress. She leaned in gently undoing the knotted criss-cross on her back. Their faces were so close. Zoe’s woody brown eyes settled on hers. She wanted so badly to kiss and had the sudden freeing realization that there was no good reason not to. So she pressed a kiss to all her freckles that dotted her face. The girl was covered in them. She grabbed Lottie by the chin and made her return eye contact.

“You haven’t even finished taking off my dress, love. And if you want to kiss the rest of me, you’re gonna have to.” She smiled at that and pushed her lover over, finishing what she had started. She pulled the back of her pretty lace dress from her bare tan back, and more freckles awaited her. She kissed the mahogany girl up along her back and to her neck. Digging her hands into the side of the girl’s dress, pulling it the rest of the way away from her body, Zoe flipped herself over to face Lottie. Her bare chest lay before her. Her bare everything lay before the girl. Lottie planted her hands on the bed and placed a kiss on the girl’s sternum. “Not so fast, Lot.” Lottie lifted her head to the girl. Zoe grabbed her dress by the cut and pulled her lover down flat onto the covers. She, too, pulled the laces apart but far less delicately. She yanked until the garment came loose. Lottie was burning so hot in that moment, she just wanted Zoe to touch her, so when the dress was no longer snug to her form, she pulled it down herself. Zoe smiled when she did so, discarding the dress with her own. Upon doing that, she realized that Lottie was wearing more layers than she had been. Impatient, the two each dug at the many skirts covering her until she was also naked.

Zoe said nothing as she pulled Lottie’s underwear down her legs and exposed the last of her. She gave her a look as she climbed over top as if to say, ready? Lottie nodded, and Zoe sat down on her, connecting the two of them. The warmth pulsating from her was exquisite, divine even. Zoe rocked her hips, thrusting on her lover's pelvis, slowly. Each motion sent waves of pleasure over them both. Lottie rolled her head back and allowed a few heated breaths to escape her throat. As the feeling intensified, so did Zoe’s movements. She rocked faster and harder.

Charlotte thought this was what she had been missing all this time without Zoe. Sure others could be an outlet to talk and to joke and even gave better advice their Zoe ever could, but this feeling could only be found in one person. Finally she was planting herself as the mounting pleasure overtook both of them. Zoe could help but moan as she left Lottie gasping for air. 

She collapsed next to Lot and, for a moment, while they both stared at the ceiling. Lottie felt like she was glowing. A sort of buzzing had overtaken her, and she didn’t feel so burdened like she had earlier that night.

She looked over at Zoe. Beautiful. Peaceful. “I missed you, you must know that, right?” Zoe turned her head to face the words, to face her lover. “I didn’t have a choice, but I…I love you.” She only smiled in response and took Lottie's warm hand in her own. The feeling flowed through her as she began to drift away. Effectively, she had missed the party.

[snakethroat]

The Beast of the Circus

Why she was still doing this, she didn't know. It was dangerous and foolish, as about a thousand signs warned. One she passed by was horribly faded. It would've read 'Do Not Feed' but several letters were hard to make out, and so it simply said 'No F ed'. And yet every night for nearly three months, Lyla returned the cage with a meal.

She approached the iron bars. In the dark, it was difficult to see the creature, but a looming shadow on the edge of the cage let her know it was there. Careful to make her footsteps loud so as to not startle the beast, Lyla crossed a yellow line of warning that she was too close.

The beast was a hunched thing in its cage. When she had begun feeding it, it was already large and overbearing in its size, but now everything made for it was a cruel reminder of just how little care went into maintaining its health. The cramped space, the tiny bowl meant for water, and the pathetic chains that more resembled a leash. Even the creature's body was once an undersized addition to those, but now it had a considerably greater amount of weight.

The furry black mass shifted to the edge of the bars. A clawed, furry, but unmistakable hand reached through the bars. She dragged tonight's victim closer to the cage. The man struggled and resisted her, but he was delirious and had little control over his own body anymore. She found something so enticing about the dangerous nature of the beast in front of her. How docile it seemed before striking, but she knew better than that. The beast's face pushed through the bars.

It almost looked human except that it had far too much dark, thick hair. And its teeth were giant razors that glinted in the light when it leaned forward. Probably it was human at some point, but everything in the circus was reduced to beast eventually.

The man thrashed about, trying in vain to make her relinquish her grip on him. He'd tried to scream too, but the makeshift gag in his mouth made that nigh impossible with any real results. He and the creature locked eyes, its red eyes blazed through the darkness. They were about the only distinguishable feature among the blackness that made up everything else. He turned to Lyla like she could be reasoned with, but she was overcome with the desire to see it again. He realized his fate was sealed upon seeing the jovial look of anticipation settled on her features.

The beast struck forward, grabbing the man's head and shoving it into its pink gaping maw in one swift motion. Lyla's breath hitched as it snatched the man away from her, and she let go. It made the first swallow, sending him halfway down its throat. The cloth she had tied around his face must have come loose because his pleading suddenly became a lot more pronounced. It was still muffled by the creature's greedy throat. No one would know where he'd gone...almost no one. The creature swallowed again, tilting its head upward and making several more gulps in quick succession, forcing the man down into its gut.

Its engorged middle rumbled a satisfied groan as the prey settled in. Instead of backing away as she knew would be wise, Lyla lingered still beyond the line of safety. The creature merely rested where it was, satisfied with tonight's meal. Lyla saw the shifting stomach and began to back away. It lurched forward, then grabbed Lyla by her forearm. The hammering of her heart and every primal instinct begged her to scream and kick, but she felt a strange calm in its grip. Perhaps this is what she'd wanted all along. It pulled her arm and head through the bars, where she came to her senses, and used her other hand to stop herself from being dragged fully in.

"Feel." It commanded. Its voice was deep and yet distinctly feminine in a way she hadn't imagined it would be. It released her hand as it rested over its struggling gut. Without its overbearing grip, she could run, but she didn't want to. Lyla reached her other hand through the bars to feel too. Releasing a breath at the relief that it didn't intend to eat her,

She began kneeding around the creature's stomach. The man within felt as though he had suddenly become aware of her presence and pushed back against her touch. Realizing she was the one with the power here, Lyla pushed down on the stomach hard. She could feel past the now ample gut fat into his very form. He was curled up into a ball, being pressed from all sides by the greedy stomach. The heat was overbearing just from the surface, she could only imagine the pain that he suffered within.

"Stop helping it!" The man slurred as he kicked. The stomach was only further enticed by his struggles. He was a fly caught in a Venus flytrap, and he only continued to trigger it more and more. The gut began ramping up digestion. Squalls of acid came from its core. He cried out in pain at the sensation of burning. Beneath her hands, she could feel the furnace-like heat.

"It's going to kill me!" He begged, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The creature let out satisfied groans as its body did what it was designed for. He was churning away, and the satisfaction spread to every inch of the beast. Lyla was engrossed in the way the stomach worked on its meal. She couldn't take her eyes or hands off it. Both ignored the man's desperate cries as they indulged.

"Money! I have money, please!" He tried, "I'll give you whatever you want jus-" His more distinguishable attempts to reason quickly devolved into incomprehensible cries. Occasionally, a single word worked its way through, but mostly he just screamed.

If not for the fact that the sounds of the show were not entirely done, someone surely would've heard him, even under all the fat and fur.

The man squirmed but found it impossible to find any relief as the heat penetrated him from all sides. He continued to scream and beg for his life.

The beast found nothing to sympathize with in the man's words. The mounting pleasure of digesting him was all it focused on, leaning into Lyla's touch. Lyla, if anything, was encouraged by the way he begged for her to stop. She felt powerful with another life at her mercy.

She got carried away rubbing and pushing at his form, aiding the stomach in his destruction. Suddenly, the solid body gave underneath her hands. His screams went silent as his form went soft. Her hands sank deeper into its body. Lyla paused for a moment, realizing what had happened. The man's pleas were no more, instead, the beast's gurgling gut was the only thing that could be heard. The sloshing remained bubbly and rather audible.

Lyla pulled back, and the beast simply let her. It looked satisfied with the meal and sat back in the cage as she back away. Lyla was now acutely aware of what she had been doing for the past few months. She crossed over the line that guaranteed safety and passed the dozens of signs that encouraged her to keep retreating. She still felt the power buzzing in her hands and the screaming ringing in her ears. Lyla would be back again tomorrow.

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - The Sapphire's Ruby (Part 5/88)

Summary - Meanwhile, back at the ranch.

Content - Swearing, Blood, Serious Injury

Vore - Non-vore, Indirect Mentions

Word Count: 2333

Just once, he hoped a day could go without so many hiccups. It was a party, after all. He had sent scouts to retrieve information from the West, and it had been years since they had come back with good news or even with every member. In this case, no news was good news. The Ruby walked right up to their chambers. He only hesitated a moment before calling to her. “My Crown,” he said, “The first of the houses are here to see you.” He could hear his wife softly crying within. At his words, she scrambled to put herself together before calling back.

“I’m—I’ll just be a moment.” He left her alone. She needed the time to collect herself. He knew it was a hard day for her, worse than her crowning, somehow. And though the woman would never tell him the reason, he was pretty sure he knew. It was likely the same reason everyone had troubles: loss. He carried on. The newest houses had to be arriving by now, but it was at the bottom of his list of priorities.

First, he had to ensure the food was exactly as was instructed.  The Ruby made his way down the corridor. When he reached the kitchen doors, he slowly opened them, hoping not to disturb the busybodies within. Luckily, no one was so close to the door, but he almost couldn’t spot the head chef among so many white coats and moving cooks. 

When they spotted each other, she waved him over. Weaving his way through the crowded kitchen, The Ruby reached the tiny woman, he towered over her. Actually, he towered over just about everyone in the kitchen. Of all the cooks, not a single one was a predator.

“We’ve got to stay moving, your highness, I haven’t the time.” She said as she started for a door in the back with a single plate in hand. 

He followed close behind her. “Of course I’m only here to ensure–”

“Sixteen kinds of alcoholic drinks, five sides, all a grain, corn, bread, rice, quinoa, and porridge, and at least a dozen or so small dishes, most on a stick, I think. Am I missing anything?” She smiled.

“Meat?”

Her smile grew as she held up the plate to him, an offering. “Both are a kind of fish, fresh from this morning.” He plucked a piece from her plate and lifted it to his face. The smell was divinely enticing. As he chewed, it began to release new flavors, like an unfolding prize. 

“That’s good.” He laughed, swallowing the fish.

“Of course it is,” She stopped at their destination, “I’m the best.” She opened the door to dozens of people frantically running around, all working on something different. It resembled the kitchen chaos. “Rael!” She yelled over the noise. A second later, a small freckled girl seemed to appear from nowhere. “Show him to the Ruby. I have to get this to her and then get back to the kitchen.” She nodded at the chef’s words.

The chef continued through the doors Rael had come from while she herself took him further down the hall. “It isn’t good news, sir," she said.” He immediately recognized the way she was taking him. They arrived at the infirmary. She paused, looking up at him before she pressed on. 

When they entered the little room, the smell of blood was the first thing he noticed. It permeated the entire room and flooded his senses. It almost made him hungry, but he shoved that thought away as Rael led the Ruby to the man's bed, where he lay in obviously critical condition. He instantly recognized the soldier as Marzin, but in worse shape than he had ever seen. The man was outstretched and limp as red bandages covered his midsection. Entirely soaking and were blood red as if he had been torn in half and loosely put together. What was worse was that he was a predator. 

“What…did this?” He asked, barely able to keep his voice steady. 

She looked as disturbed as he was. “We don’t know, he was the only one alive, but the others… are dead. At least we think so, he was hours away from the rendezvous point and he has not woken up since.” She paused, looking at the sickening sight, its implications horrified them both. “He really should be dead. The guard wants to know if any more are expected to return to their posts in the Forest.”

“No…” He whispered. “No, I want all of them to retreat and lock down the outer walls; no one leaves. Inform me as soon as he’s awake.” He said. Both of them left. Technically, he was meant to check security next, but since he had pretty much covered that, the Ruby was finally able to return to lighthearted duties in the main hall, where the people were gathering. He tried to shake the thought from his mind because he couldn’t confirm it just yet. But only one beast could be responsible for ripping armed preds apart like that. Only one would be able to keep Marzin alive in such conditions, just for sadistic ends. He continued onward, avoiding the image that conjured.

She couldn’t be late greeting the houses this year. Mistakes like that were costly. He made sure to be looking his finest. He merely had to tend to his wife on this day—which he knew was so often difficult for her— and to get conversations flowing. That was simple compared to the grander task of judging a generation of candidates. Being the Crown, it was so vital that she greet them, but he could buy time.

At last, he arrived in the main hall. The sun was quickly dimming. It was meant to be storming soon, and the sprinkle of snow had already begun to settle outside. With that in mind, they could expect a few houses tonight and a few in the coming days. One head, always quick to arrive, approached him immediately.

“Lady Iridessa!” he called, bowing at the large woman. “Lovely it is to have you and…” He paused, looking at her five children, all dressed to the nines. Many seemed to think that was the key to a good impression. It couldn’t hurt. “Your heirs, always a pleasure, Madam.” He said. The pred flashed him a wolfish smile.

“I don’t suppose her Jewel will be down soon?” 

He was sort of surprised that she hadn’t beaten him here. What was that woman up to? “Of course, my lady! But first, introduce me to…” He looked over at them, obediently at the lady’s side. Five this year, not four.

“Zelda, Azrael, Zara, Ezra, and Zeo.” She said as her children bowed as their names were called. The youngest, Zeo, only looked the tiniest bit nervous for his first time. The Ruby himself had been a lot worse his first time than that. 

Excellent candidates as always, my dear.” 

“Yes, and perhaps one of them may actually be chosen this year,” She bit. He knew she meant to imply Mazra shouldn’t still be on the throne, and yet she was too cowardly to simply say so.

“I suppose if they don’t all take after you, it’s possible.” He returned. She looked furious as she was about to say something else, but someone behind him beat her to it.

“Sire!” A man called to him.

Thank gods. “Excuse me," he said. He allowed the man to pull him away, anything to get away from her. But when he saw it was Neo, he realized he was likely setting himself up for an entirely different problem. “What is it?”

“Seemed like you needed a little rescuing, Denzel.” He was shocked to see the man at this party. He hated shit like this. But then, who didn’t? It was a somewhat common sentiment, and yet people went because they had no other choice. It was one of the few opportunities that allowed those less fortunate to grasp at power. One need not always be the person sitting on the throne, only in proximity to whoever was. That was Denzel’s exact predicament, and although Neo had the same opportunity of a lifetime, he rejected it. For love, likely. Hardly anyone had a backbone like that. And it was for that exact reason that Denzel was surprised to see him back here.

“What are you doing here, Neo?” 

He looked up, brows scrunched in confusion as if that answer was glaringly obvious. “I’m here to see you.”

He smiled at his old friend and looked away, scanning for the Lady’s harsh gaze when she realized he was not talking to anyone important.

“Gods, you could use a drink, huh?” He would have objected if Neo hadn’t gone off so fast to grab him one. When he returned, Denzel hadn’t the will nor the mind to reject it, and so he took one of the drinks out of the man’s hands. He didn’t immediately drink it, instead swirling the liquid in his hands. “Seriously, what's up with you? It's a party, Denzel.” Denzel could almost bring himself to smile.

He had a lot he wanted to let out. He was tired, his mind ached, and upon seeing Neo again, he wondered if he had chosen the wrong path. But he couldn’t just say that, so instead he drank the alcohol. “It’s been a long day.” Neo looked at him like he knew it was much more than that, but he simply drank from his own glass instead of questioning him. 

“How’s Mazra?” Denzel bit his cheek. Truthfully? She seemed to be growing worse than ever. A little part of him didn’t trust the Sapphire it appeared that was what was sucking the life out of her, even he could be killed for such blasphemy, but he knew what he saw, the way she had grown so paranoid, how tired she always was, and how her mind didn’t seem entirely hers, even when she took the blasted thing off. Yet it was also the Sapphire that kept her alive. He imagined a world where Mashra had been the one to stick around and the Sapphire had dissipated a hundred years ago instead. In his mind, it was easy to think her the benevolent, powerful god who would put a stop to the cruel empire’s spread, who would protect them from the god that ruled them. But instead, they had the Sapphire, they had the crown, and they had this gods’ forsaken party to continue its lineage. The crown that would kill him if he voiced this, so he merely said. 

“She’s tired too, but we’re happy, you know?” He almost didn’t believe it himself as he said the words. 

“She looks happy,” Neo said. Denzel turned to see his Sapphire, his wife, as she entered the room. She was stunning as ever. A far cry from the frail woman he could’ve imagined from her prior sobs. She was quite quickly swarmed by the many guests who desired to win her favor.

“I should–”

“Yes, go.” Neo shoved him forward, and Denzel pushed his way through to be beside her and take her arm in his own. She looked over to him and smiled. She did look kind of happy for the moment. 

He stayed by her as she spoke to dozens of people late into the night. Denzel sipped his drink, able to answer a few questions in a dozen, and hoped he hadn’t let her get overwhelmed. But she was a natural, and extraordinarily charismatic as she worked her way around talking to everyone who had already arrived. To think she’d do it again tomorrow. 

Finally, with a moment of peace, she turned to him. “I’m sorry I was late. It’s just so…hard. My mind is…not what it was.”

“I know,” was all he said, but she smiled at him. It was almost convincing enough to let him imagine that she were not exhausted.

And the party truly was spectacular. Standing next to this wonderful, despicable woman he loved, Denzel realized he was happy for the first time in a week. The stress and the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders for that moment. 

He could almost fool himself into believing she loved him as much as he did her. Part of him couldn’t blame her for her indifference. 

“Denzel, sir.” A servant whispered to him, interrupting his thoughts. He tore away from her side to speak to the man more privately. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good news. “Sir, I’m here to inform you…we have Marzin awake now.” His heart dropped at those words.

“Is he well?”

“He’s…uhm—well, wouldn’t you like to speak to him yourself, sir?” He followed the man out of the ballroom to see for himself.

He arrived at that familiar metallic scent, but now the palpable stench of death quietly lingered like it were waiting for the moment to act. “Marzin?” Denzel breathed. He was happy to have the man alive, but…he was still in worse shape than Denzel had ever seen him. “Oh gods. Tell me what happened.”

The man clearly ached as he responded. “She said…she let me live to see…royalty.” He wheezed as if his condition were deteriorating still. “She wants her to know, Denzel.” He said, grabbing the man’s arm. He held it tight, almost to the point of hurting, despite his feeble form, as he continued. “That beast will kill all who…stand opposed, your wife…Sapphire. Retreat.” The man relinquished his grip, falling limp back onto the bed. To see a proud man reduced to this, he couldn’t bear it. But what sent a chill deep into his core was not the derelict condition of the man but his mention of the beast. It only confirmed what Denzel already knew. Safreti lived, surely. One day, he would relish that happiness through the entire weekend of the festival, but not this time.

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - Into the Forest (4/88)

Previous Part

Summary - He’s outta the woods.

Content - Swearing, Mild Gore

Vore - (SPOILERS) Oral Vore, Post Vore, Non-Fatal, Unwilling Prey, Willing Pred, M/M, M/F, M/Multiple, Escape, Minor Character Death

Word Count: 4751

It was a stupid idea. Of course, he knew that. He knew his odds of survival were not ideal going in. Or rather, he was going out. The people he was running from were…well-off, to put it lightly, and that decreased the chance he would go missing and simply be forgotten. 

How he wished he could just disappear from the roof. It was an option, he supposed, to crawl back out the window before he was discovered. Below him, the party raged on. And when he dared go outside the first time, he noticed the horrible chill and, worse, the storm. Merlot could’ve opted to remain hidden until the party’s end. If he could manage, then leave when the storm cleared, there’d be no trouble with the weather, but that only meant it was harder to escape. He could not return if he were to drop from the roof now and be caught. But he had already created an opening and already snuck a blade.

A beat passed. Merlot made this nasty bed, and now he would have to lie in it. Carefully, he lowered himself from the roof until he was hanging by the fingers. He dropped himself into the snow. Merlot plummeted through the icy air for one horrible second. The landing was rough but not unbearable. He lay in the snow, gathering himself. When he rose from the white abyss, he looked around. There was no one outside the property. Scarcely anyone in the streets at this time, he imagined.

With the cover of darkness and snow on his side, Merlot snuck away into the storm. It was really coming down around him. This hadn’t exactly been a spur-of-the-moment thing. He had a safehouse to run to, and really, this would be the last night he would be able to get out. The stars aligned perfectly for his escape. The party, the storm, the safe house, his proximity to the forest. He doubted he would ever have another opportunity like the one before him. It was doubtful he would be stationed so near to it again.

Merlot walked to the edge of the property line. He looked back at the party. It was brightly shining through the snow. People were dancing and laughing. Predators were looking joyous. His people were standing around serving. He could only hope none of them would be reprimanded for his defiance. But, Merlot could not live for other people forever. He had taken countless beatings for his fellow Aegians’ disobedience, never quite able to die. For the first time in months, he was healthy enough to run. That was even rarer than the perfect distraction the universe had crafted for him. Starvation, abuse, cuts, bruises, soreness, frailty—it all wracked everyone in his position.

Merlot continued off the property, it was an imaginary barrier, yet the first step was like entering a whole new world. The man ran like he had never run before. The snow was difficult to sprint through. He didn’t dare look back. He didn’t dare let the cold slow him, nor the guilt, nor the fear. He simply ran because he knew it would be worthwhile whether or not he made it. No way he stayed a minute longer.

When he broke from the the rural area, after several minutes rushing through the cold, icy air pricking his throat, he discovered just how many people were out at this time of night. He was an unaccompanied prey. Worse, he was a Slave. Merlot wasn’t sure how he could get past so many hungry eyes to the bar without being discovered or even questioned. He slowed his steps. It was not by much. He had to move quickly but didn’t want to draw too much attention to himself.

He thought about how much easier this would be if he were Rosé. Being a Sage, she could pass for a pred. If she could wear two uniforms, anyone could be forgiven for mistaking her for a Worship. And yet that was the same reason she wouldn’t run. Sages were treated better than Slaves, Rosé better than Merlot. Said she was ‘closer to their god. ’ That’s all height really meant. What a load of horseshit, he thought. There wasn’t even a god to be close to anymore. All three heirs had been missing for decades. Everyone had a different story for how or why that could be. But with all their domains intact—predator, prey, and human—they couldn’t be dead. Merlot knew it was stupid, but he had to buy into the idea that Aegis still resided in the forest. If he couldn’t even hope that, what was the point of running away at all?

He lost himself too much in the moment and ran into someone. The man he bumped into began to say sorry until he recognized what he was. 

“Why are you alone?” The man snapped immediately.

Merlot paused at the question. Should he lie? Probably. He considered his situation again. Definitely, he should lie, but he hesitated too long to get away with it. He tried to think of a title he could pass for that wouldn’t get him into trouble. Previously, he had said his name was Rye to get out of less serious situations. He had no way of knowing if that would work here but…

“Well?” The officer said a bit more suspicious of the prey. 

“I’m Rye.” Merlot straightened himself. He tried to seem confident like he wasn’t utterly terrified.

“Right. I’m going to need some form of identification that permits you to be out here…unaccompanied it seems.” Crap. Had he underdone the confidence? Merlot hadn’t prepared for this possibility. What kind of shit luck did he need to happen upon the patrols? He was just lucky it wasn’t one who would recognize him. His jaw hung open as he went to stall or explain or perhaps distract his way out of this when his feet just took off running.

Merlot expertly weaved his way through the crowd, ducking beneath baskets and dashing between legs. He couldn’t stop running. There was no way he could simply lie now. It was hard on the man trying to follow him. He was slow and sluggish compared to his nimble catch. Worse yet, trying to make his way through all the people like Merlot did was impossible. He was just too big. Merlot went on running, looking for the signs Matcha had told him to. Every street corner looked the same to him. The snow-covered roads were flooded with people, and little market booths were sprung up everywhere. He could thank the goddess for that, at least he had a means of getting away. Of all the places around, the busiest was a bar. It clicked for him that that was what he had been looking for. As soon as he was given the chance, he rounded a street ally and ducked behind the shop’s back. People were still trudging around but did not seem to care all that much about what he was doing. After all, just as many prey ran to jobs as from them. He heaved in the back alley for several minutes before solidifying that he had undoubtedly not been followed. The snow seemed strangely calm around him now that he was still.

He gathered himself and stood up. Merlot knocked thrice on the back door just as he was instructed. It wasn’t long before another prey opened the door. She had dark features, dark hair, dark eyes, and a tanned complexion. He paused—not expecting a prey—until she ushered him in. Merlot looked around the dimly lit building, but the girl grabbed him down just as he spotted patrols at the door. The prey ducked down low with her as she led them behind the bar and into the back of the building. They no longer had to duck once they were out the back door. As he took in their surrounding from the porch steps—an empty lot filled only with trash piling on the stone back fence and snow—the girl finally spoke.

“Which one are you?” She asked.

“Merlot.” He said without thinking. She hadn’t given him a reason not to trust her but it was so rare that was a reason to do so.

“No.” She shook her head. “Which house are you from? And which way are you going?”

“I belong to the Jains. And I was hoping for the forest.”

“You ran from the the bloody Jains?” She gaped. Her huge dark eyes widened a touch further. “Wow. You’re probably the first we’ve had in years.” That sort of surprised him. It wasn’t exactly difficult to run, physically. But he supposed he could imagine the fear and propaganda fed to everyone he knew made up for that. That was why he needed the forest. Sure, the pirate’s way or a life in a permanent safehouse like this one were possible, but with such powerful people after him, neither guaranteed him a life of peace. They’d find him surely unless he could get his tie severed. Maybe he did understand faith. If Aegis couldn’t help him, he’d have to make it all the way to the Sapphire Empire. They made sound impossible from here. But they had to, right? Else, what kind of foolish prey wouldn’t run? The woman in front of him.

“Why not run?” He asked her. “What’s here for you?” Her face hardened at his question.

“This is plenty.” She said, grabbing his shoulder and twisting him to face outward. “You’ve got to go over that wall. I think the ladder is still inside.” She disappeared behind the door only to reappear a second later with the ladder in hand.

“Look,” she said handing him the ladder, “ordinarily we would have you remain the night to avoid the storm but, with this hot a trail and such a tremendous debt you have…”

“I know.” Merlot said simply. He turned away from her and stretched the ladder onto the wall. It was daunting to have to climb the great structure, but he had conquered heights already. She came beside him as he climbed and steadied the ladder. When Merlot reached the top, he wiped the snow resting on the top of the wall and pulled himself onto it, looking over the edge. The landing was still daunting. He turned back to the girl once more. He never even got her name. Not that it mattered, it was doubtful she would know her real one anyway. 

“Thank you.” He over the wind. She began tucking the steps back into themselves. 

“When you make it,” She said, pressing a hand against the cold stone, “Keep to the roads until they become unkept. You can look for the red house then. You need to find it before you get to the woods. And when you get there, ask for Angel.” He nodded at her instruction, heart pounding, “The forest is a dangerous place to have a name.”

He turned away from her and dropped from the wall. He landed on his feet and barely didn’t slip back onto his ass. The wind whipped about, and for what felt like the first time, he wished his uniform was thicker and heavier. Merlot began walking toward a dark road in front of him. 

It was empty. Not just compared to the busy streetcorners from the other side, but there was no sign of life anywhere near him. He couldn’t be bothered by this fact, though, not after the heartdropping encounter he had just had. Still, it was strange so close to the festival to be anywhere so devoid of life. 

He carried on walking. It felt eerily calm, even with the snow. He had always imagined there would be some grand chase, a brush with death. All these years of fearing if he would have the bravery necessary to take his chance. Most never even got one before their lives were so cruelly snuffed out. Yet here he was, quietly walking only a few thousand feet away from freedom, and it was easier than a day's work. That would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Merlot kept walking through the night until his legs were sore from trudging through the snow. At dawn, he was well into the road losing upkeep, but there was still no sign of this red house. It couldn’t be too far offroad, or she would have given more directions. He was thankful that at least the snow stopped. Although exhaustion was wearing on him, Merlot couldn’t stop. The growing number of trees around told him he had to be nearing the forest. Straight ahead, it seemed he couldn’t have more than a mile before the forest actually began. He could see the more densely packed trees.

Just as he stopped to rest once more, Merlot caught a glimpse of movement beside him. Any chance of him falling asleep quickly dissipated as his anxiety shot way up. He had grown used to being on his own, and the thought of freedom that was so near being ripped away now was unbearable. He clutched the small knife that was on his left side, strapped to a leg. The only thing he brought with him. The only thing he could afford to take. 

“Who’s there?” He said, silently praying he was so delirious he was hallucinating. He looked around. Trees were sparse here and there. The sun rose in front of him, illuminating the world. As he started to glance behind him, someone grabbed his face, hand tightly grasped over his mouth. He struggled and thrashed in their grip. He bit down on the hand as hard as possible, but it was unrelenting. The person pulled him back and around a tree. From there, he could see it was a prey woman or even a very small Worship. She kept her gloved hand loosely over his face. She was strapped with a bow on her back and an arrow in her other hand. One of the Shikari, he assumed. She took her hand away from his face, and he stayed quiet, realizing she must have seen something he hadn’t. The woman silently took the bow off her back and loaded the arrow onto it. She looked around the tree, holding the bow low, the arrow in tow. Merlot clutched his leg where his own weapon hid. 

He peered around the tree to see what she was seeing. The wilderness seemed just as serene as before. He looked back at her. Her gaze still hardened. Locked on their surroundings. Now that he had a good look at her, he noticed her face was bleeding. It wasn’t that he was oblivious, she had been running from something or someone. After an eternity of her searching, he couldn’t wait anymore.

Before he could ask a question, she drew the bow up at something coming toward them from the side. By the sound of it, it's something big. He snapped his head to see it. She released the arrow at the pred but did not hit his face. The arrow straight to his side seemed to have no effect on the beast as he plowed forward through the snow. Before the woman could draw another and strike her target, the man was so close to them that he grabbed her bow and wrenched it away. Merlot was exhausted, but he willed himself to stand to at least try and get out of there. The pred was so much bigger than the ones he was used to. Although she was now unarmed, the woman was still fast. She let go of the bow and moved quickly for a tree, climbing it with haste. As she disappeared into the treetops, Merlot stared, amazed. No way he could do that. The pred set his sights on Merlot once she was out of eyeline. Shit. This man was much faster than the one he had just run from. Merlot was now the sluggish thing that couldn’t will his limbs to aid him.

The pred dove for him, dropping the bow. He grabbed Merlot and lifted him with ease once he had him, quickly gulping down his feet, not even bothering to discard his shoes. His legs could no longer struggle against the immense strength of the predator consuming him. The knife was heavy at his side, suddenly. He could no longer reach it and use it before he was fully consumed. It was too far down. He had heard how much harder it was to actually use a blade once you were inside. But he had to try because there was no sign of the Shikari. Merlot used the hand that was still free to try hitting the pred. He knew his blows must have been pathetic, but it felt better than doing nothing. As his legs sunk deeper into his maw, Merlot began to feel the form of another prey beneath him. Greedy bastard. He felt a sudden jolt from the man, and he stopped swallowing. There was a pause. Suddenly, the ground came fast at him as the man collapsed. He pulled his arm back but kept it in front of him. Hoping only to break his fall and not his arm. He sank to his knees before falling forward, and with the help of the snow, Merlot broke his own fall less harshly. Now that he wasn’t actively sucking him in, Merlot could release himself. He dragged his body forward until he could use both hands to pull his legs away from the body beneath him. The wet sound was that of nightmares when his legs finally came free.

He turned in time to see the Shikari push the man onto his side. She pulled his shirt up and, using a fresh arrow, struck beneath his lower gut. The noise was sickening. She pulled the blade upward, and blood began to spill from his wound. The woman moved with such confidence, as if it were second nature to her, peeling back the layers of skin to reveal a prey girl resting in the corpse’s core, curled into a ball. She was tiny she could only be a Sacrifice, that or she was but a child. From where he sat, it was difficult to say. 

“Mari? Mari, you okay?” She said to the lady. She turned her face toward the woman. He could see then that she was grown. What a horrible life to have to go through. He knew he had it hard at his stature, but her? She went through hell.

The little lady looked horribly pained, coughing a bit as she said. “I’m okay.” Even drenched in acid, the woman hugged her. She shook violently. They had to get out of the cold she would die very quickly while soaking wet. His own pants were wet and now covered with snow. He had to get out of the cold, too.

“Thank you,” he shuddered, feeling the utter terror that washed over him sink away. Now he was just shivering.

“What are you doing out here?” The Shikari said, reaching for her discarded bow. “A bit far off from a runner, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t think so.” Merlot breathed. “I don’t suppose you could direct me to a red safehouse?”

“You shouldn’t just go asking any old pred that.” So she was a Worship. Or used to be. He couldn’t imagine they had much use for ideas like that out here.

“You’re a hunter, though.” He said, standing. “Think I could at least trust someone who saved my life.” She shook her head as if to say ‘You would think’ and pointed the bloody arrow past him. 

“Go further in that way. There should be a tree marked with Blue’s symbol. It’s red. It should point you to the house.” He looked down at the pair, sort of wishing he could do something for them. He had nothing of value. It suddenly hit him that he would have to rebuild completely. If he didn’t want to stay in the forest forever, he would need a new name, a new home.

“Thank you,” He said, turning the way she indicated. He walked for a few minutes, only a bit shaken by the encounter. This time he clutched the knife firmly in hand, damn whoever could see. The red mark on the tree caught his eye. It was only a little ways off from him. When he studied it more closely, he saw the triangle atop the symbol was rotated. It pointed left. So, left he went. He tried to keep as straight a path as possible until he saw it. The house was a deep red, the roof was green and covered with moss, which clung to the side of the house as it grew downward. He understood how he could’ve missed it. What would he have done without the Shikari? 

Merlot was relieved to be nearly at his destination. When he got to the door, he only hesitated for a second before knocking three times, the same as he had done before. The door was large enough for a highborn, he thought it only a bit strange, but many predators had defected over the years, so he could have a little faith. A slight wind nipped at him while he stood waiting. 

When the door opened, he took a step back on instinct. The woman standing at it was slightly taller than the frame itself. Yes, it was not unheard of for there to be a sizable defector. But they were few and far between. Nearly always, it was a Worship if any pred at all. Someone like her was so rare that it made him nervous.

“Are—are you Angel?” He asked, voice shaking. She opened the door for him and turned her head. Saying something he couldn’t understand. Merlot gripped the knife in his hand so hard it hurt. But he took the invitation to go inside despite everything inside him screaming not to. 

The warmth of the building enveloped him immediately. He hadn’t felt how cold he was until he had this to compare it to. It was lit only by a little fire resting in the fireplace, a set of iron bars fallen over it like they too need the warmth. She shut the door behind him, pushing a bit of the icy air in. It made him shudder. 

“Go sit by the fire.” She said, a southernmost accent curling on the words. “I will get Angel for you.” The giant woman disappeared into another room. He followed her instruction and tried warming himself. Her accent only set him more on edge. It made her stature make more sense but made her motivation for helping even less comprehensible. A direct descendant of Safreti herself. But she possessed no qualities of the goddess besides her height. She couldn’t have her sadistic nature or even her hunger. There would be no reason for her to leave the Southern continent if that were the case. He imagined a life of luxury like that. Many prey would claim they would be kinder as the preds of this world. Merlot knew better, he had seen what hunger—what power—could do to a person. Plenty of preds were unreasonably cruel, but even more were only unwilling to give up their proximity to power, unwilling to put themselves at risk. But if she had done just that to house runaway prey, she must not be true kin of the goddess. 

He twisted at the creaking of the floorboards. A prey stood in the room with him. 

“Angel?”

They nodded, walking closer. Merlot realized he was still clutching the knife as if he were in danger. He set it down beside the fireplace as they approached. 

“I understand you’ve come a ways away, mister,” Angel said, their accent just as harsh as hers. Something clicked for him. That was it then. She left for them. To think of prey as a monolith was what kept their system alive. It was so easy to lack empathy for them. But that was what was different about her; even on the Southern continent, it was possible for predators to understand. “We can help you get far but…” They looked down at Merlot’s uniform. The only thing it was missing was his broach. He had the sense to at least take that off. “You are still bound to a predator.”

“Yes, I believe it’s why they sent me here.”

“Certainly, mister. I can sever it for you, but you should eat first.” They inched closer, checking his neck for the mark. “Imani!” He called to the door. After only a moment, the giant reappeared with a tray in hand. She came closer and crouched down. He could see then that it was a loaf of bread, a cloth, and some kind of…leather? “It’s not much, but it should at least get you to the forest. I should hope you at least know how to forage. You are a ways away from the temple.” Merlot took the bit of leather. Upon inspection, he recognized it was meat. Being of service and not the kitchen, Merlot could scarcely recall the last time he had even held a piece of meat. Now, he was able to eat it all to himself. Biting into it certainly reminded him of leather, but the sweet, salty flavor bursting in his mouth told him otherwise. It was tough and harsh on his mouth, but he didn’t care, couldn’t. He was so hungry he could only think about the next bite. Merlot only ceased his meal when his mouth was too dry to go on. A chunk of the dried meat still remained, but it would keep well.

Angel placed a finger on his scar. It sat just below his hairline and was the only connection he still had to the goddess. It was a character which said his name, not his real name, but Merlot. He had been bound too young to be given a different one, but he had always imagined if he were born in the Sapphire empire he might be called something more human, more him, like Doran. He was quite fond of imagining himself to be called that. It was something they couldn’t take from him. His own mind had been a sanctuary for so many years. He was so close to being free of that. It didn’t feel real.

Imani leaned over to grab the cool part of one of the iron bars. He tensed at the realization of what they were going to do. Angel took the bar from her and hovered it above the nape of his neck. “You should bite into it, it will help, mister,” Angel said to him. Merlot picked the piece of meat back up and bit down on it across his largest teeth. Immediately, Angel brought the white hot pain down on his neck. He could feel how it seared through the skin as Angel pressed down, hard. He let out a cry of pain and ground his teeth against the meat. A cold relief quickly followed as Angel discarded the bar back into the fire. They held the damp cloth over him, and he pressed his eyes shut and let a few tears fall. The burning remained, but the pain became cold, the sensation washing over him. When he looked up again, Angel had a piece of bandage torn and ready for him. His pain subsided as they used a nurturing wax first before wrapping his neck. 

“It will take weeks to fully heal but when it dries you shouldn’t have to worry so much.” Imani said, bringing him a skin filled with water. He downed it in greedy gulps. He was beyond thirsty.

“You’re a new man now. Merlot is no more.” Angel said. “The name still has power, though, and if you don’t want that to be over you, I suggest you find a new one.” They added. He sat there soaking in the feeling that was welling up in him. He didn’t take orders. He didn’t wear a uniform. He ate meat. He ate whatever he damn well pleased. He truly was brand new. “How do you feel?” Angel smiled. He looked up at the two of them. Thank the gods for kind souls like theirs, he couldn’t think of how to express his overwhelming newfound weightlessness.

“Free.”

[snakethroat]

Really love your story so far, the tension is sooo good and the cliffhanger in chapter 3 is definitely intriguing aaa, can't wait to see later chapters!

OMG anon, you have literally no idea how much this means to me. I have had this idea for actual years atp and I am so excited to finally share it with people. Thank you so much for tangible feedback. Sometimes, I worry I am just throwing my work into the void yk?

Anyway much love <<<3333

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - Grapefruit (Part 3/88)

Previous Part Next Part

Summary - Pretty sweet deal with a real bitter aftertaste.

Content - Lotta talking in this one, guys.

Vore - Non-Vore, Oral Vore Mentions, Implied Stuffing, Post-Stuffing

Word Count: 3512

When she woke again, she was no longer in the murky blackness. Sure, it was dark, but the moon's guiding light let her know she was awake. There was never a moon in her sleep anymore. A pang of guilt gnawed at the general. It was not like this was her first time. She had been here before, but still. 

Athena slipped out of her bed and made her way to the door. No one of very high status would be up at this hour, but all the servants surely would, so she had to be careful getting around unseen. It surprised her just how cutthroat and brainwashed those on the bottom rung were. They would not hesitate to rat her out, so many believed it was the key to survival. It was the very first thing she learned here.

Even in just the short weeks she had, Athena had learned a library’s worth of information about the Empire. Secret passages sprinkled around the Castle, ancient places, and hidden tombs, but most intriguing was Uzuri’s Maw. It was said to be beneath the whole structure, buried somewhere down deep. More importantly, it was a spiritual place the prey seemed to think was the answer to all their problems. The name felt oddly familiar to her, but for the life of her, the general could not figure out why. Although they alluded to it, prey often refused to say the name aloud, only ever writing it or using euphemisms. She did not want to find out if there was any validity to the superstition, and so Athena followed suit. 

She crept around the dark corridors, lost in her own mind, thinking of finding out as much as she could. A whispering in the dimly lit hall to her right refocused her thoughts. The prey slowly leaned against the red wall to listen for anything of interest or value. There was a way to make almost any information valuable if you got it to the right person in the empire. So much of these people’s lives was just hiding.

“...that’s just it, Euradis,” A small voice whispered. “They supposedly made it last night. No one’s to say if the forest is a viable option anymore. What with the new general and all.” She said. “Do you think it’s true they follow a Sage?” Her heart pounded as she realized this was about her. It was strange to be considered a “Sage” in the empire when, all her life, she had only known predator or prey.

“I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” A man answered. The deep growl of his voice sounded sweetly familiar to Athena’s ears. She leaned in a little more, almost on instinct, to catch the notes of it. “She must be remarkable if they kept her alive this long.”

“Could be, or perhaps Uzuri is truly returning to power. You can feel the ebb and flow of her power with every cycle of the moon these nights. The Golden Moon is fast approaching.”

“Gods, I hope not, with the sheer number of them returning lately, what an unbelievable de—” The man seemed to notice something else as he caught on the last word. “Good night, Cin. I promise I’ll visit you again.” The pred briskly walked down the hallway, and the girl silently shut the door she must have been peering from. 

Athena waited to be sure her coast was fully clear. After the silence had settled, she continued as softly as she could manage down the corridor. The words echoed in her head. What an unbelievable death? Sure, she had known it was quite probable she would outlive her usefulness, even before being discovered as a traitor. But that name, Uzuri. It was so familiar to her, but what did it have to do with her death? She had found that the more she learned, the less she knew. The place was built on mysteries, but by far the biggest was its very existence. The structure was as old as civilization itself and probably belonged to a God lost to time. Father Time claimed all their names in the end. The oldest she knew was that of humanity: Mashra, but even she couldn’t be so ancient as to predate memory. The goddess had been revered for all of human existence and used to be what unified predator and prey.

When she finally came to the end of the corridor, she felt around the wall for something soft and unstable, as she had been told. At last, she found the loose brick and pressed it inward. The whole set of bricks went with it as a door seemed to come from nothing. It was a tiny door that could fit someone no larger than a Worship. She wondered what the purpose of a structure like that in a castle full of predators much larger than Worships could be. Athena slipped in, tucked her secret shut behind her, and began descending the steps. Her arm loosely traced along the spiraling staircase. She wished to be away from the castle, from the empire. The whole thing had a terrible aura to it. It was a mass graveyard of her fellow Aegians. She supposed it was the case for the entire world, but in any other place, it was easier to forget. There wasn’t a heaviness hanging in the air from the recency or brutality of it. That was the relief she longed for, not to hold the weight of the terrible thing she was aiding as it surrounded her from all sides. It nearly consumed the general, too. 

“General, finally.”

“Sorry, Caine. I had a little hiccup getting here.” Athena said as she took her seat beside her accomplices. The four people most entrusted to the rebellion within the castle all gathered in one room. It was like an interrogation. Or an execution.

“Well, as I was saying,” Caine resumed, “we need to take this opportunity to clear opposition. There is to be the Festival of Souls in a few nights. With all the commotion, we can get a few people inside the castle but more importantly, get people out.”

“So, who exactly are you aiming for?” The man beside Caine asked.

“Caine and I discussed it in the mess.” Rasbin explained, “Commander Riet is becoming an issue. If she continues to interfere with Callidus’ plans, we won’t have any military influence at all.” Athena knew the commanders did not respect her. They made that more than apparent. Although it was required that they follow her plans, that was all. She was ostracized otherwise, talked down to, and even hit at times. It could have been worse. They could not leave a mark on her, not one she could show to Nidaryee. Even the commanders were not so foolish as to believe they could get away with that. Not that she cared about Athena all that much. Still, she could not figure out why Nidaryee wanted her help so badly. It was painfully obvious her armies were plenty strong when facing nearly any direct opposition. So what did Athena’s talents offer someone who had it all? Besides that, there surely had to be a predator who could handle the task of planning even a fraction as well as she did. And it all only worsened with Riet’s open defiance of her word. Yet without a scratch on her, Nidaryee was of no help.

“Callidus, you could use the stress of the event to push Nidaryee. Make it seem like she’s being disrespected. If anything gets that woman moving, that’s it.” She had moved with them so quickly, and the more she learned about their methods, the more the general regretted her haste.

“What about Riet’s servants?” Athena asked. More than likely, if Riet were out of the way, the Sages bound to her would be killed. If she were found guilty of treason, a fate worse than death. The Commander was a problem, but this…

Caine only paused for a moment at her question. “That’s the cost of salvation.”

His indifference struck something in her. “So we just condemn them to a horrible fate if it means getting rid of her?” She said before she could stop herself.

“You'd rather we allow you to lose all influence in the military?” Snow asked incredulously.  

She began getting irritated that they thought of it as either or. “I’d rather you at least pretend to care about the people we are trying to help. It shouldn’t be so easy for you to cast these lives aside!”

The other woman among them seemed to resonate with her words. “She’s right, Caine. We might be able to do something for them. We could get them out of here that same night, no?”

“If we do that and the Queen suspects a thing, Callidus is done for.” Caine snapped. “Or say we get them out. Riet is a High Priestess, you know Nidaryee will not forget a debt like that. They’ll be hunted for the rest of time, which will either cost them their lives or us the rebellion.”

“But—” They said at once.

“You want her talents to make it past her first year? This is what it takes. You can’t seriously think four lives are comparable to the ones we could save. If they knew the stakes, they would understand. And Callidus,” He said, facing her, “I should hope you won’t make me report insubordination back to Blue. You’ve been such an asset. I would hate to do that.”

“Of course not.” She bit. 

“Good, you don’t have to make everything so difficult. Perhaps we can arrange some kind of vigil.”

Yes, it was somewhat of a relief to find there were already people organizing a rebellion, but it wasn’t how Athena expected. They weren’t open. More like a secret order of defiance, and even then, defiance was being generous. Truth was they hardly ever disobeyed orders. It was wishful thinking to imagine anywhere near every prey would join them. She couldn’t understand how they could be too scared to even try betting on their own lives. Though some days, it felt like betting on losing dogs. 

“...but I suppose we are lacking in numbers. I do have a few I’ve been keeping an eye on.” He said. “I trust you all have met the man working down in seamstry. Gin, I think.” Caine said. “He is from the old empire.”

“I was going to suggest him as well.” Rasbin agreed.

“I had someone.” Athena cut in. There had been so many exhausted and fed up with the empire she thought would be ideal for their purposes. But she wanted to know how much influence she honestly had. “I know it’s a risk, but the head chef—”

“Aadi?! No.” She knew that was coming. It seemed like every time she had a suggestion, there was something about it that either Caine or Snow would not get behind.

“He’s so close to her. Have you ever even spoken to the man? Because I have, and I can tell you right now he has the material for this.”

“How do you think he got that position? It’s so rare that we see someone survive in a position like that for nearly twenty years and have anything but their own survival at heart.” Snow retorted. “He’s a loyal dog, Callidus, and he must have gotten dozens of his cooks killed over the years. There’s no other explanation for longevity like that.” Athena was more than a little hurt by that, and she wanted to argue but she didn’t know the Chef all that well. What they said about him could be true. Yet she was unable to let go of her second pick.

“What about Gabriel?”

“A pred?” Rasbin asked, stunned. The others only stared, mouths agape.

“Think about it. So many prey would never betray the empire because they have learned to love their position so close to the ground, impossible to die from a fall that way. But he’s much the opposite. The man has never known the luxury of being born at the top. Like us, Gabriel has a gripe with the empire, only he was promised the dream and never got it.” The other rebels said nothing to her. But they had to realize her point. They could only recruit prey from outside the empire because they actually knew what they were being deprived of. Any pred should be the same way regardless of origin.

“I think,” Caine finally said, poison lacing the words, “you are not ready to lead the rebellion with us.” The other two looked sorry for her but did not protest his words. She felt her face burn at the embarrassing realization that her hopes were only delusions of grandeur. She looked at Rasbin who promptly looked away. Snow maintained his stare and Caine pointed his eyes to the door.

“Goodnight, Caine.”Athena rose from her spot on the floor and exited the way she came.

…

She could barely focus on her daily tasks. Perhaps it was sleep deprivation from getting up at midnight every night catching up with her. More likely, she thought, it was the horrible weight of what they would do to them. It was not like she was worried about being a failure. In fact, it was just the opposite she was worried about. She knew this would be a win…for the empire. Athena was devastated about what the siege had required of her. Strangely, in the city surrounded by predators, Athena did not feel like a prey. She felt a part of the pack. She was just as hungry for blood and just as cutthroat. Her compliance at the forestside kingdom told her as much. Athena avoided news about it. She was terrified of what it would be. Weirdly, she hoped she had failed and Nidaryee would have realized her mistake. But worse and unfortunately more likely, she would be a successful rat, and Nidaryee would command her to do it again. Worse still, she knew she would.

“Mom?” Snapped back to reality, she looked up at Mis. They sat on the edge of a table for break. She hadn’t realized it was already time. “Did you hear what I said?”

“No, sorry, honey. I’m just—could you repeat that?” Artemis placed a hand on her mother’s.

“You seem…out of it.” Her daughter's face reflected that of her father’s, then. Athena thought she would break. “I want to talk about the teas. You said before was not a good time. I suspect now isn’t the greatest either, but I have to tell you today.” The way she phrased it made the general uneasy. “Listen, you just…hear things in that line of work. And some of them are the most protected in the empire. They must be, else, how could anyone survive such proximity to preds like that?” Artemis’s face seemed so young then. She really had grown, and moments of reversion like these reminded Athena of that. “I’ve heard what preds think of the Soul Festival. Sure, it’s the end of an era, as we say, but to them, it’s more of a beginning. Mom, they think that the return of the Goddess is imminent.” Athena had somewhat pieced together why it was so huge a holiday. But it happened year after year, and yet Safreti had not returned, evidently, or there should have been no chance for the Aegians to win the war. And the implication of her return was that he would too. As it stood, neither was too likely.

“If she has let them down year after year, what makes this festival so special?”

“I'm not sure. You wouldn’t get that impression from the way they’re speaking. It's like this is a guaranteed success.”

As people began filtering out of the room, they both became aware of the time.

“I have to go.” They each said, standing suddenly. Before Artemis could run off to be so grown without her, Athena grabbed her by the hand. When she looked back, the more adult features stood out again. Mis smiled at her.

“Just…be safe, dear.” Artemis only nodded as they parted ways. Athena was back to her mission. They had only said she wouldn’t lead, but she was certainly expected to complete her tasks as usual. 

The general could only hope she wouldn’t run into anyone in the map room. She only had to grab a more intricate map of the city, and she didn’t want to explain herself. When she pressed open the door, she could hear that someone was already inside. Just her luck. Upon entering, Athena stopped short when she saw a tiny prey man even shorter than her, a Slave, and a woman with straight dark red hair slicked back sitting on the table. Riet.

“Athena!” The pred said in her tongue, far too cheery. “I thought I’d find you here.” 

Athena made her way to a box of maps sitting beneath the table and rummaged through them, looking for a useful one. “Commande—”

“I knew I was right about you. Just another prey who’s yet to learn her place. Did it feel good, trying to play predator?” Riet sneered. “I suppose if you’re here, you’ve heard the news from the Eastwoods fleets then?” Athena looked up at that. She wasn’t sure if that meant she had failed. “I mean, you must admit you were out of your depth. We all thought so, at least. Figured this job would be too much for a prey, even a higher one.”  Riet sighed, picking at her fingers absentmindedly. The man stood idly by.

Athena’s hand clutched around the map she needed. “I don’t wanna hear about it.” She went for the door. The commander caught her by the arm. Her face brightened a little more, amused by the situation more than before. 

“Just tell me,” she grinned, “do you think, given the choice, you’d choose this,” she gestured vaguely to the room, “over dying again?” That gave her pause. She nearly considered the question for real but then tried wrenching her hand loose. It didn’t budge. It only amused her further at the prey’s pitiful comparative strength. “Fine, don’t tell me.” Riet smiled. “Oh, and our Queen asked to see you. Real official business, I guess.” Finally, she let Athena go, and the prey practically bolted for the door.

“Right now?” She breathed upon reaching the doorway.

Riet laughed at that. “Well if you think her such a patient woman, you can try your luck later.” Athena didn’t return the laugh or even a smile. She simply walked out, not bothering to look behind her. 

Athena hated talking to her. Hated even more how she could humiliate her in front of a crowd. But she couldn’t think about that now. The thought raced in her mind. She was to see her Queen. It had been a while since she had actually spoken to the woman. No matter how many times it was, it never got less nerve-wracking. She changed plans and instead moved quickly to the dining room. Riet did not have to say that’s where she would find her. When she reached the grand doors, Athena paused to take a breath before entering.

The table was piled end to end with food. Much of it was meat, the smell of which permeated the whole room. Despite the number of times she saw the exorbitant display of wealth it always hit something in her. Part of it was disgust, to know other’s starved, some of them her own people, and the Queen ate like this. Part of it was horror and perhaps awe. It was terrifying to know the only thing keeping her safe in an empire of enemies was someone so monstrous, someone who thought with her stomach. That wasn’t guaranteed safety at all, was it? She tried to push those thoughts away; she had to address the woman with respect regardless.

In spite of the spread of food, Nidaryee was not eating. She was only nursing a glass of wine, reclined back into a throne-like chair with her too-full belly. Athena approached cautiously and stopped a healthy distance away. She could hear the groaning clearly enough from where she stood. Bowing her head, Athena said simply, “You asked to see me, my Queen?” Hopefully, her nerves were not as tangible to Nidaryee’s senses as they felt to hers. The general could hardly stifle her shaking.

“Yes, Athena,” She sighed, “I was so worried I had made a terrible mistake with you. But the possibility of your talents was too great to ignore.” She took another sip of the wine before continuing. “And,” she said, dragging on the word, “we have just had word return from that little forestside kingdom I had you work on.” Athena kept her head lowered until the silence became unbearable, and she felt her Queen’s gaze on her. When she looked up, Nidaryee was grinning.

 “Congratulations, General.”

Next Part

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - Survival of the Fittest (Part 2/88)

Part One Next Part

Summary - Only the fattest and smartest survive, and one cannot always be both.

Content - Swearing, Cute little moment :)

Vore - (SPOILERS) Graphic Digestion, Fatal vore, F/M, F/F, F/ Multiple, Willing Pred, Unwilling Prey, Post-Vore, Post Digestion, Size Difference, Struggling, Fearplay

Word Count: 2821

Athena followed the man down the corridor silently. She wondered if it was a common occurrence to see a prey in the empire. Perhaps on a plate or as a slave. Not as she was. The lieutenant's stolen glance revealed that much. Or he could have assessed the situation faster than she had. Realizing he could lose his position if it had indeed gone the way he thought. Prey were not the only ones found on plates here.

The silence of the hallway put Athena on edge. She wanted to say something to the pred, but she couldn’t quite think of the thing to say to him. Not that she was all that eager to get friendly with her enemies. She knew her acceptance of this position was the greatest treason she could commit. Every move the general made now had to be in effort to rectify that. She considered simply sabotaging any job given. Every time the monster asked her to do anything, ensure it cost her more than it gained. But then, why keep her around? There had to be a more subtle way to disobey.

It occurred to her as they passed a servant girl, that there were plenty of prey who could help her. Whenever they lost anyone in the war, it was common knowledge they were likely taken as a slave when not eaten. That being the case, her kingdom was not vanquished in its entirety. Here, she had a chance to rebuild and, more importantly, free any prey that remained. It wasn’t just her people either. So, an outright rebellion was her most straightforward course of action. Once she saw the resources she had access to, Athena would begin her plan to get every single prey out of this gods forsaken empire.

“Here you are, miss.” The man—Gabriel’s words snapped Athena out of her thoughts. She flinched as if he could hear what she was thinking, plotting.

“Thank you,” She said. The general was so eager to be by herself that she rushed inside without even looking and slammed the door behind her. She listened for his footsteps to depart before allowing herself to relax. The tired woman slumped against the door. For a second, the lavish room didn't quite sink in. But when she truly had a moment, she looked around. It was big, bigger than any room she had ever had on her own. Her own bathroom, a huge bed clearly made for someone a bit taller than her, and a walk-in closet. All dark wooden furniture was mainly carved with dragons and fantastical designs. A few scattered pieces of clothing were strewn about the room. It looked like whoever had lived there prior had left in a hurry. She didn’t have any belongings to store, though.

Athena leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. Although she wanted to talk to the other prey in the empire to plan what she could, it couldn’t be top priority. First, Athena had to find Artemis. She couldn’t possibly wait for them to bring her.

…

Nidaryee leaned into the hot tile of the sauna room. Her stomach was softened now, hours after the harsh digestion of that tiny queen. She wasn’t hungry anymore, but if she had hope of impressing her, she had to continue eating. She supposed it was easier in her position than anywhere outside the empire. Hundreds of preds were starving in the eastern lands just another reason to have the prey girl try her hand at that stupid forest. 

“Your Majesty?” A high priestess class woman approached her side. Nidaryee began removing her waist jewelry, which had loosened with the digestion of her meal. She waved the woman to continue speaking. “We have the traitors from the Kingdom of Varra. As requested, they are being sent here.” The woman shifted uncomfortably in her dress, the fabric far too thick for the hot room.  

“Is that all, Alara?” Nidaryee handed her subordinate the golden chain. She took it gingerly and hardly struggled with the weight of the thing. Nidaryee sensed the pred had come here herself for an ulterior reason.

“Actually,” The other somewhat nervously began, “Gianni is…concerned about our lack of trained masseuses. I’m aware it’s considered a punishment, but could you n-”

“You are excused.” Nidaryee snapped. “If Gianni feels he is not being adequately taken care of, he can explain for himself.” Alara didn’t bother to apologize, it was not the first time she had met the short end of her temper. As quickly as she’d come in, the high priestess simply turned tail and left. Nidaryee allowed herself to sink into the heat and release the tension.

…

Athena could barely keep up with the maidservant. She walked so fast Athena couldn’t imagine the girl running. “I’m so glad to meet another from the coast. Never thought I would see anyone from Sondala again.” It felt good to hear the Ashran words although, it was uncomfortable to think someone just like her would serve in such a lowly position.

“Me neither, honestly,” Athena replied. It surprised her how quickly she found another Sondalan besides her daughter. “What did you say your name was?”

The girl slowed a moment at the question. “Iris.” she took a breath, “We don’t get called by our names anymore.” It somehow both surprised and didn’t surprise Athena that they were dehumanized in such a way.

“What do they call you?”

“Sage,” Iris whispered as if it were some great shame. “They’ll probably give you a new one soon, but what’re you really called?” The servant asked. “So it’s not forgotten.”

“Athena Callidus.” Iris smiled at her and made another right. Athena rushed to follow her before she lost her again. She stood at another set of doors like the many they had passed. They were big wooden things with various fruits carved into them, matching on either side. Before Iris could open the doors herself, someone on the other side opened the grand things.

“Oh, thank god you’re back, Sage.” A young man said when he opened the doors. “Listen, Basil and Clove were just called out. I recommend staying out of the East hall if you can. I heard we have Southern Visitors.” If the Southern visitors were who Athena assumed, she’d avoid the East Hall, too. Iris looked mortified.

“Do…you think she’ll be okay?”

The man looked sorry for her. “Clove’s a capable woman, Sage. I’m sure she’ll be fine.” With that, the man brushed past the two of them, hardly even noticing Athena’s presence at all. Iris ushered her inside and pulled the door shut behind them. 

Athena gaped at the vast room. Stairs on either side of her led up to a higher part of the room. The floor above was not complete in its coverage of the ground floor. People rushed all around them, taking various things into other doors. The main part of the room mostly held a large table in the center of the walls of doors. Surprisingly, few people were sitting down. But then Athena supposed they were stretched thin for how much they were relied on to maintain, even just in cleaning, but she highly doubted the extent of their duties ended there. 

Iris maneuvered them around the crowd and to the table. As they approached, the general began to recognize a familiar face. 

“Mom?” Iris rushed her over to her daughter.

“You should be fine staying here or returning to your room if you remember the way. But I have to go, dear.” Athena gave her a nod as the woman rushed out one to the smaller doors on the left side of the room.

“Mom, thank Mashra, you’re alive.” Her daughter hugged her tight. “I thought—they said  I would never see you again.” A sobbing wracked her body a moment before she could continue. “They said I would be sent further South. Alone. They said–” Her daughter's young face was stained and wet with tears. It burned red with both the joy and despair of their situation. Athena dug her hands into Artemis’ hair. “I mean, I haven’t seen you in months. When you disappeared, I thought for sure you were dead like everyone else. Or lost or...” Artemis sucked in a breath. “Worse. You know, I heard you took a job as a trapper. Are they right? Are you working for the empire? Is that…why we’re alive?” Athena held her breath for a moment, unsure of what response could justify what she’d done. “So it’s true?”

“Missy…”

“No, don’t start with that crap again, just tell me. You can talk to me like an adult. I’m not a baby anymore.” Artemis pleaded.

“You’re seventeen.” Athena looked around before leaning in, “I’m going to make it right. We’re going to get out of here.” Something like understanding flashed in her girl’s onyx eyes.

“Whatever you do,” Artemis started, “I want in.”

“Missy…no.”

“Don’t call me that. You still treat me like a kid. General, I can handle this, I lost my home, too!” Athena stared at her daughter, heart aching. She brush aside a dark curl from Artemis’ face and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Her girl slumped herself into those loving arms, endeared by the embrace after so many weeks alone. Even as the chaos echoed around the two of them for the moment, it felt like they were at home, like this was some far off horror that they’d never bare witness to. 

…

Now that she was up to the legs, they finally went down. She continued to slurp and gulp until the traitor was tucked into her stomach. It gurgled in response to being filled again so soon, especially with someone much bigger than a meager prey. The other two watched as she turned their accomplice into a meal. The girl struggled and fought as Nidaryee reached for the worship. 

“No! No, let go of him, you fat fucking monster!” She kicked as she screamed for the queen to stop, but she was simply ignored. The boy had clearly accepted his fate. He was far calmer than most prey were, even more so than the ones that typically thought themselves stoic. It was much more haunting to be eaten than many thought it to be. He had undoubtedly been eaten before in his short life. She held the man by his restrained arms and shoved his head into her maw, face first. Still, the man was almost limp, as if he did not care for life in the least. He was small enough that she didn't have to stretch her jaw much. He had a flavor similar to the last one, and with a quick taste, she sent him down after them. Two or three more swallows, and her gut was stretched more than ever. She thought for a moment that she would burst before finishing the last one. With the way she thrashed about, it was possible. Nidaryee leaned back to alleviate the pressure. A burp forced its way up as the air settled in her stomach. She breathed momentarily, trying to gain the strength to finish the girl before lifting her hand again.

“Majesty,” the pred restraining the girl started, “perhaps you should digest before—” 

“Nonsense.” Nidaryee interrupted. “I can more than handle three pathetic insubordinates.” The three were far from pathetic, or they had been before being caught. Formidable threats certainly, and much bigger than prey typically were, being Worships. She grabbed the girl by her arms, who continued to twist and kick and struggle. Any number of things she tried to avoid being eaten. Rather than trying to force the girl’s head in while she fought, Nidaryee swept her feet with her other hand and crammed them into her throat before the girl could reorient herself enough to be a nuisance. The girl could only twist about, but as Nidaryee moved her other hand to better hold her, she started begging again instead of just screaming. 

“Please, you can’t be serious.” Tears flowed as she felt her feet touch the slimy throat of her queen. She stopped trying to kick in the confined space. “You’re a monster! How could you–” Her words broke into unintelligible sobs as her face entered Nidaryee’s mouth. The muffled scream she let out was quickly quieted as the Royal swallowed the rebel down. The lump paused in her throat for a moment, and the queen feared she would choke to death trying to swallow her hubris. Mercifully, the girl finally slid down into her gut. She let out another belch, almost releasing her meal with it. 

She sank her body into the water until only her stomach’s top could manage to remain above the water’s surface. The heat soaked deep into her core. It must be hell inside her stomach. She couldn’t quite enjoy the feeling of digestion. The overfull feeling she had was too much, too bare. It was hard to understand what so many found enjoyable about being pushed to the limit. It was a highly admired trait among preds and didn’t come naturally to her. She understood being at the bottom of the food chain but had no empathy for those who wouldn’t fight to keep from being there. Survival of the fittest, after all.

…

The hellish heat penetrated Mukumi from all sides. Her hands were still bound behind her back. The burning sensation on them was already too much. She could hardly move at all, but she certainly could not remove her hands from their tightly pressed position. At that moment, it was like a light had gone off in her head. She could use her hands if the rope melted enough. She pressed her wrists further into the fold and resisted the urge to scream at the pain. She had to conserve her air. She twisted her hands this way and that to loosen the bonds until she felt them loosen. She was barely able to pull one hand free from its restraint. A bit of skin scraped and bled with it, but that hardly mattered now. The other pulled free much easier with only the one hand bound. She had freed her hands. 

“Are you still alive?” She called to neither of them in particular. She could still feel Ibuki’s solid form beneath her, but he went down head first. He was once a powerful warrior, even as the empire would define it. For all their talk of strength and size being one’s value, they knew better than anyone the importance of speed and wit. But this wasn’t a battle speed or wit that would help her with. Mukumi pressed her hands against the surrounding walls. They resisted her touch. It took all her strength as she tested the elasticity. The girl fought for hours—until she was exhausted—before accepting she was not strong enough to upset the stomach alone. She braced herself for what she had to try next. There was no use in trying any of the other tactics they taught her on a predator this large without the help of the others. She was already sitting in it. What was one more horrible act to kill a tyrant? The warrior reached her hand down into the digested mess. The heat was overwhelming, like a pot nearly boiling. Her hand brush passed solid bodies, not yet digested. As soon as she felt something sharp like a blade, she pulled. It stubbornly clung to the body, and trying to pull it through the muck was slow until the bone snapped. When her hand emerged, it was a burning pink, and in her grasp was a rib. 

Mukumi stared at the thing, more than a little horrified at it. She took it in both hands and pushed the stomach walls out as thin as she could with both feet. She felt herself sink down into the mess as she did so. Trying to hold her reaction down, she swung forward with the bone to cut her way free. 

Mukumi was pulled backward by some unknowable force. As her world shifted, she shut her eyes. The bubbling all around her became unimaginably loud, so she dropped the bone to cover her ears until the rumbling stopped. When Mukumi opened her eyes again, she realized it hadn’t worked. The thick lining had resisted her attack. More than that, her air was mostly sucked out from the resulting belch. Tears streamed down her face as the gravity of her situation sunk in. Her crew was dead, she was next, and there was nothing anyone could do for her. She always found the notion of praying to a god to be ridiculous, especially the god she knew she would pick. Still, she closed her eyes as she sank deeper onto her own softening legs in the burning slop and prayed for Mashra to rescue her.

Next Part

[snakethroat]

The Cruel Empire - Majesty (Part 1/88)

Next Part

Summary: - Only the biggest predators or most cunning prey survive. General Athena Callidus finds herself with all the luxury and power she never had, which comes at a cost.

Content - Mostly just talking, Starvation mentions.

Vore - (SPOILERS) Post-Vore, Implied Digestion, Fearplay, Unwilling Prey, Willing Pred, Size Difference, Digestion Mentions, Implied Fatal

Word Count: 2241

“General, we’ve had the queen taken to the catacombs. With any luck, she'll escape. But those walls won’t hold forever. What are your orders?” The soldier asked. 

Although he kept his face calm, the general could practically smell the fear rolling off him as if she were a pred herself. “We stay here. Know that means certain death, but we need to buy time for our court to flee with as many citizens as possible. That's all we can do.” The general replied. She tried her best to seem reassuring as if she did not fear her fate. But she knew it was the worst news she could give. After months of holding off the cruel empire’s armies, they, too, would be crushed like so many before them.

An ominous pounding came before the doors opened. They could hear the predators making their way to the room. Screams echoed around them as other teams were eliminated.

The preds stormed the castle, breaking down their defenses with such ease. The monsters seized what little was left of the general’s soldiers. “The famed general,” Their leader mused, “Take the rest as you wish,” He commanded. “This is the only one she wants alive.” The rest of the predators laughed as they left with her brave soldiers. She watched in horror as some of them took the prey right there and began devouring the army, swallowing the once proud men into nothing but a meal, a pathetic squirming gut. It was awful to see the once proud men reduced to a bulge. The general herself was blinded and bound. She could hardly struggle against her captors. As they led her out of the castle, she could do nothing to resist.

…

A failure. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t have been devastated by a single failure. Athena had been fighting this war for nearly three years. Staving off preds the way she had led to minor setbacks, of course. Even tragedies as no war was without casualties, but this…

The general was starving in her cell. She had been starving all her life, but never like this. It could’ve been weeks or months, she wasn’t entirely sure. They occasionally interrogated her, but it was disorganized and haphazardly done, probably just a formality. Death would be soon, and she could hope starvation would take her before she was…executed. Their kingdom had finally fallen. She had the hope that she and her soldiers' efforts were not entirely in vain. Her queen, her court, surely had escaped.

“General.”

Snapping back to reality, Athena looked up—one of the cruel empire’s guards. The boy seemed a bit scrawny for a pred. Anywhere else, it might’ve meant nothing, and everyone was hungry, and food was the driving force of the world. But here, this was an indication of status. Judging by his weight, The boy was poor, possibly very so. Figures a lowly servant was to handle her. It was the empire’s last laugh, the final stain on her legacy. She would be eaten by nobody and forgotten. She’d already resolved her fate. She wouldn’t be one of the prey so foolish as to think that a small predator was anywhere near within range for her to fight. She'd lose. And so she wouldn’t struggle.

“Okay, I'm ready.”

The boy opened her cell. He didn’t, to her surprise, devour her right there. Instead, the guard took her by her hands and led her out of the dungeon. He kept her hands tight in his grip. As they walked through the halls, Athena noticed the elegant structure and art that covered every surface. It disgusted her to think that the queen could live in such luxury while starving the surrounding lands and, evidently, her own people. They claimed luxury was natural for only the biggest. The tiny low-class pred before was undeserving, and so was she—survival of the fittest and all that.

The general was utterly terrified. Athena knew she was being escorted to what was undoubtedly her demise. Escape seemed impossible with this iron grip on her, and yet. She looked around for a way out, a weapon, something. There was nothing. The halls were more or less empty, if not beautifully designed. Paintings covered the walls, most too high for her to reach. The twists and turns disorientated her. She’d given up memorizing her way back twenty turns ago.

The boy slowed to a stop as he reached a door at the end of the path. There was a pred bit fuller than the escort standing beside it. The boy’s nerves had been palpable this whole time, but standing before the grand door, he began to shake. It made her wonder what kind of monster could make a predator so afraid, even a small one. Someone was screaming on the other side. The man opened the door for them, and the boy stepped forward. She dragged her feet a moment, but he only pulled her along.

When they walked in, Athena saw a single pred standing beside a grand throne, head hung. On the throne, an enormous predator sat. The queen, the monster, was as large as the stories told her to be. No, bigger, definitely bigger. She was certainly tall, although it was difficult to tell without her standing. Not that Athena was eager to see the pred stand. But she was also muscular and sported a large gut. The royal had long dark hair matching her dark tan skin. She had a snarl on her face and surely some poor fool in her squirming gut as she berated the other pred standing, head down, beside her. “…stupid could you possibly be?! I mean,n really, outsmarted by..” The predator turned her head. Her anger erupted when she saw the general. “By this! Pathetic. Get lost, lieutenant.” He halted on his feet a moment, staring at the prey. “Now, lieutenant. Before I devour you where you stand.” The man rushed out. He seemed to take that threat incredibly seriously. It made Athena question if it was possible. With a pred her size, it certainly seemed plausible.

“Majesty?” The boy escorting her piped up. The general hardly kept from rolling her eyes at the address. She hardly considered her a poised or divine being. Certainly not worth that title, not like Athena's queen.

“Yes, you can leave too,” she said, shooing the boy out with an orange she was holding. That was the reassurance he needed. The nervous guard practically ran out after the lieutenant, shutting the doors behind him and sealing her in.

As she sucked the orange of its peel, the pred finally seemed to focus her full attention on the prey before her. It was unnerving, to say the least. Athena’s head was barely up to her stomach's bottom, and she was sitting down. She shrank away from the woman’s sharp gaze. Her eyes were like shallow waters, almost a murky black. Perhaps shallow eyes were less catching, but it was safer. She could know what to expect from the pred. Still, why bring her here? Why not crush any hope of resistance immediately?

The queen seemed almost to read her thoughts then. “Don’t worry dear, if I wanted you dead, it would’ve been plenty easy to arrange.” She took a bit of fruit from the table beside her, perhaps the only bit of food easy to find anywhere outside her reign. After all, fruit was free to come by. A plum, she held between her two massive fingers. It looked the size of a grape. As she ate the fruit, she didn’t bother to spit the pit out. It was but a seed to her. But it seems to spark her stomach to life as the poor sod within writhe at the sensation of more food being piled atop them. How humiliating. “Your kingdom lasted two years and nine months? That’s a record, you know.” It was hard to feel any sense of pride when she had failed. Well, not completely…

“Where is my queen?”

The pred smiled as if there were something funny about that. “Right here, darling.” She grinned, gesturing at herself. And if you want to stay alive, unlike your poor constituents, that’s how you’ll regard me. I want you to help me win this war. My leadership is so wasteful.” Athena frowned at that. Even the queen’s gut seemed to protest that. The struggling within erupted, creating a cacophony of gurgling.

“You want me to betray dozens of kingdoms like mine just to save my pathetic skin? Is that what your kingdom thinks of honor?”

The queen sneered at her words. “Well, your little girl’s still alive, but if it’s all the same to you, I’ll make sure she ends up a bottom-level slave. Most hardly last a week.” The general felt her chest tighten. She had already assumed the worst for Artemis. She had tried to push that thought to the back of her mind, but now…

“She’s alive?”

“For now, but then I suppose the question is, are you willing to do what it takes to keep her that way?” The pred said, chewing a slice of fruit. Athena stared at the giant woman. Was she? Before she had known this, leaping to her own death seemed an easy choice. Knowing Missy was still alive and relying on her to remain so changed things. But the queen had said she likely wouldn’t last a week. That was not a death sentence. Perhaps even the queen was not a cruel enough monster to kill a child herself. Condemn one to death by starvation in some far-off land, perhaps, but to take that life with one’s own hands, that was something else entirely. She would not see to it to kill Artemis. 

“No.” The general said with resolve. The queen’s face dropped at the assertion. “The way you talk about my queen,” she paused for a moment, “ you don’t have her, do you? Otherwise, you would use her as leverage, too. If I’ve not failed in my mission, then I’m ready to die. With honor.” Athena felt almost triumphant standing against the tyrant like that, even though, truthfully, she was horrified at the thought of joining the half-dead remains of whoever occupied her middle.

The queen’s face remained a snarl as she swallowed before speaking. “I told you,” the pred said in a voice dark and low, “to forget that false idol. I am your queen now!” The prey flinched at her voice, but she would not change her mind. Every bone in her body screamed at her to get away from the pred, to betray her people, her court, her queen. She reluctantly stood her ground, not groveling or begging.

“I will remain on my queen’s side to my bitter end.”

The pred’s face scrunched up again at her defiance. But then she regained herself. “You want so badly to join your queen? Fine.” The recognition struck her. It was not another pred in her stomach, or a soldier, or a traitor. It was her queen. She did have her. Athena had simply overestimated the value of either of them. The once-soldier was but a toy to her, except she had refused to play along. The royal rose from her throne, and the general realized she had never seen a pred of her stature. Ever. Preds of her class and status were so much larger than any threat she’d ever fended off. 

Terrifying would be an understatement. If she had felt her struggling to be inconsequential with soldiers that barely up to the queen’s chest, she could only imagine the kind of strength the woman standing in front of her had. She backed up. Fast. But when her back hit the door, she knew she would be unable to open it. It was far too heavy. The pred slowly approached, almost bored as if the act of defiance was a mere inconvenience. Athena’s mind raced. Was there another way out? She glanced around the room and quickly figured no. Is it possible to outrun her? Who was she kidding? Had she any kind of weapon? No, they stripped her before. She hadn’t anything sharp at all, not to mention the difficulty she’d likely have trying to cut her way out of the pred’s stomach. Until she finally accepted the reality of her situation. There was only one way out. 

“Stop! Please! I’ll be your general! I’ll do whatever you want. Just please don’t!” Her eyes were pressed shut, trying to shield her from her fate, from the monster. When she opened them again the royal had just sat down again, the blue fabric of her dress flowing back down with the motion.

“Glad to hear it, general.” The predator smiled. “I hope you're as impressive as you ever were. What do we say?” 

“Thank you,” the general growled.

“Thank you, what?” The pred pushed, a smile creeping onto her face.

“Thank you, your majesty.”

With that, the pred snapped her fingers and sipped from an enormous wine glass. The man outside the door opened them, standing at attention for instruction. “She’s a loyal dog, Gabriel. Take her North quarters.” The much smaller pred walked her out, closing the door behind them. She had never felt so relieved to be with a pred. She held her title and her family with more food than ever, and it was the biggest loss of her life.

Next Part

[snakethroat]

Blog Info

This is a fetish blog focused on vore and will be mainly written. I might post my art here someday :)))

Content:

For clarity, I almost always give the power to the preds, so do not be misled by safe vore or reformation. This is usually a technicality where the prey is still partially painfully digested. If that is not for you, neither is this blog !

I'm working on writing a couple long-form vore fics that are plot-heavy, so not every chapter contains vore. The one I'm currently prioritizing is high fantasy. Just so you know, this is a hobby, so updates will likely be inconsistent.

Frequent

Oral Vore

Bellies

Fat Preds

Unwilling Prey

Struggling

Digestion

Willing Preds

Soft Vore

Hunger

Fear

Domination

Size Difference

Half-Size

Cruel Preds

Weight Gain

Multiple Preys

Occasional

Whump

Willing Prey

Unwilling Preds

Same Size

Mass Vore (more than 5)

Hard Vore

Gore

Safe Vore

Reformation

If it's not on this list, you probably won't find it on this blog. (Idk, man, I'm only human.)

Specifically, I don't like: Small Preds, Scat, Piss, Vomit, Feral, Incest (including step-family), Beastiality, etc

I don’t role play sorry !

Feel free to ask me about anything on this list or personal questions, but I may not answer them. This is not an Ask blog, so I won't answer everything.

I do not tolerate bigotry. I am a genderqueer, Black, and lesbian. If you do not stand with antiracism, feminism, Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, the oppressed, refugees, immigrants, the poor, and queer people, I don’t want you here.

Also, all these things are functionally anti-capitalist and, thus, anti-AI as well. We don’t do that here !

This blog is NSFW, so for safety please keep it 17+

Thank you for stopping by!