#orginal fiction | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thepenultimateword · 1 month

Text

Love Thy Enemy Part 6

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five

For all Callista's talk of winning Vorrin over, it was surprising that she returned to ignoring his existence. Pins and Switch even informed him that his designated visit to her chambers had been canceled for the week. Usually, Vorrin would've been thrilled, but considering the circumstances... How was he supposed to gain the empress's trust if they didn't see each other?

"Is she busy again?" Vorrin asked as he took a bite of strawberry scone. He kept his tone bland and stared with what he hoped looked like disinterest at the wall.

"I hear she's taking a trip to the border cities," Pins mumbled, sewing needle held between his lips as he turned the half-finished embroidery in his hands. "Probably takes a lot of prep work."

Vorrin had felt rather guilty about his outburst the other day, and remembering Switch's comment about waste, he'd asked the manservants if it was possible to repair the torn shirt. The short answer was no. Nothing could get the shirt exactly back to its original state. The longer answer, with more cloth and designs to hide the stitches, the outfit could be salvaged. So here the pair were, with more work thrust upon them, though Vorrin couldn't say he wasn't grateful for the company.

Vorrin set down the scone, turning full attention to the manservant. "The border cities? Why?"

"I only caught pieces from the soldiers while fetching your dinner the other night, but I think an emissary from Avarose is meeting her there."

"An emissary?"

"She has been out of the country for almost a year now. Maybe she needs an update from Prince Suthand on the state of the kingdom?"

"An update can be sent in a letter."

"You know more about politics than us," Switch said, stacking up some of the empty breakfast plates. "Why do you think she's going?"

Vorrin pondered it a moment. Callista was calculated, and she knew her hold on Totholan was tentative. She wouldn't leave the capital unless she thought it was absolutely necessary.

Perhaps she wanted to check on the strength of the border troops. But she could outsource that to a general couldn't she?" And then there was the emissary. That would be political. But why would she need a representative from her own kingdom? And why didn't they meet her here instead of the other way around?

"I don't understand anything she does," Vorrin said finally, picking back up his scone. He only managed to nibble it a little further before asking, "When will she return?"

Switch raised a brow. "You're certainly eager to see the empress again."

"I wouldn't say eager. Simply...interested."

"Well, she hasn't left yet," Pins said. "She might still come to say goodbye."

As if Vorrin was worried about not receiving a proper farewell. He was her consort, not her lover. He forced a smile anyway. "Maybe."

Pins smiled brightly back and turned the finished tunic around for him to see. "How's this?"

A spattering of golden stars and a large sun now hid the repaired tear. They glimmered against the white fabric like the celestial bodies they were imitating.

"It’s beautiful,” Vorrin said, “it’s a wonder you were hired as a manservant rather than a tailor’s apprentice.”

Pins flushed appreciatively and lowered his eyes to the ground. “I used to do the repairs to the servants' uniforms, back before I was officially hired. My mum said I had a gift. But…apprenticeships don’t pay in money, just room and board, and my family couldn’t really live on one income so…” His face fell a bit, but as he lifted his head again, it abruptly brightened. “When I was offered this position, it paid twice the amount as a regular manservant, and I still get to do sewing, so better off for me, I say.”

Vorrin fought the frown dragging down the corners of his mouth. He knew what it was like to come from humble beginnings. Living day to day on whatever scraps he could get. Going hungry. Survival topping every other thought or desire. The main reason he'd joined the King's army as a boy was for the pay. Squires received a gold piece every month, and the stipend only grew the longer he stayed alive. Not to mention the free board in the barracks. As he’d risen in the ranks, he’d created a comfortable place for himself. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, he hadn't had any family to rely on him, so he’d only had to worry about himself. He could only imagine the pressure of supporting a family at such a young age.

“Is your mother in Totholan?”

“No, she stayed back home. But I send her half my earnings whenever any of the soldiers travel back to Avarose with the Empress's letters.”

“Which they skim,” Switch muttered.

“It’s fine,” Pins said, forcing one of his bright smiles, “I just think of it as a delivery fee.”

This time Vorrin did frown. “That is not fine. They recieve their own wages, they don’t need any of yours.” He doubted it was something Empress Callista would allow either. “I’ll speak to the Empress about it.”

Switch audibly choked.

Pins shot to his feet. “Oh, no! You don’t have to— It’s much too small a matter to bring so high as the Empress.”

Yes, Vorrin understood it was unconventional. King Duras would have imprisoned a servant for wasting his time with such a request, that is if he even allowed it to reach the level of audience, and with the state of the kingdom, Empress Callista probably would brush it off too, but…

“If she cares about me, she’ll care about you,” Vorrin said firmly.

“I don’t want her to think I’m complaining or gossiping about the soldiers. Especially not to you."

"Because you don't want to be blamed for my poisonous attitude toward all things Avarosian?"

Pins pressed his lips together, his lack of denial an admittance all its own.

“If it bothers you, I won’t tell her it’s you.”

"I...well..." Pins slowly folded the tunic over his arm and moved gingerly across the room to tuck it away in the wardrobe. "I guess its ok. If it comes up that is. And as long as it doesn't inconvenience her. If she seems put out, tell her to forget it. And don't make it seem too urgent." He cleared his throat and plucked out a new outfit, lithely changing the topic. "How about this?"

It was another set of robes, this one a couple layers, the bottom a silky vibrant gold and the top a poofed, gauzy white that muted the underlying fabric, almost like looking through fogged glass. Glimmering gold strings hung loosed off the sleeves, ready to hold each one in perfectly puffed sections."

Vorrin grimaced. Where did the empress even get all these clothes from? Had she sent for them as soon as she’d taken him hostage or had she planned for this ending in advance? From what he'd seen Pins and Switch wear, robes were not uncommon for Avarosian men, but the fancy ones in his wardrobe were on another level. Either high-class styles were different, or the empress had some tastes. Maybe a bit of both.

"Well, I was hoping to attend the training grounds today," Vorrin said. "That is if there is a soldier to escort me today."

One of the things he and the empress had agreed upon in their last conversation was that Vorrin should have more freedoms. The training grounds to practice his sparring and more visits into the city were at the top of his requests. Surprisingly, both had been granted, on the condition that he was watched at all times.

"Oh!" Pins put the garment set back and sifted around the wardrobe for something else. "Then this?"

The new outfit was two pieces, a bottom and a top, so that was at least closer to Vorrin's regular style.

The top was a black compressed shirt with the sleeves cut off mid-shoulder and silver-threaded embroidery stretching from the shirt's high throat to the middle of the chest, giving the appearance of a layered necklace. The bottoms...were a skirt. Blue. Long. Plain except for the embroidered hem in matching silver.

"Er...I can't exercise in that," Vorrin said. It was the more diplomatic reply.

"This is a sparring outfit," Pins said. "An expensive one, but still equipped for actual sparring."

"I don't see how I'm supposed to fight in that." Vorrin stepped closer and flicked the hem of the skirt. "It's too long. And constricting. I'm not going to be able to move without tripping, ripping it, or showing everyone everything."

"It's not a skirt if that's what you're worried about," Switch said, setting the stacked dishes on the breakfast tray. The young man was as sharp as ever. He marched up the proffered outfit and grabbed the hem by one side, pulling it up to show the wide trouser legs beneath. "The overskirt is for show. It's split so it doesn't get in the way. Think of it as robes for fighting. Most of the military has switched to more obvious trousers, but most generals still wear this style. I don't know if you've noticed."

Vorrin couldn't say that he had. He didn't really pay attention to what his opponents were wearing in battle, and since becoming Empress Callista's consort, he'd been mostly confined. He assumed he'd seen mostly low-level soldiers since then, but it was also possible he'd missed it, either being in too much of an angry fog to notice or assuming they were robes like any other.

"The outfit's fine," Vorrin said crisply.

"Good!" Pins said. "Then let's get you ready!"

"I'll send for a soldier to escort you," Switch said. A shadow of a grimace crossed his face, but just as quickly it was gone. Replaced by his usual straight expression. "It might take a little while, so I should go now."

"We can go together," Pins offered.

"No, no." Switch drew himself up proudly. "I'm fully capable of finding someone. And it will be more efficient this way."

With a short bow toward Vorrin, he was out the door.

Pins had Vorrin dressed within a half hour. The bottoms were much more comfortable than he'd expected. His hair had taken on a simple style today, tied up into a tail. However, Pins still managed to make the simplicity elegant by using a silver hair ring instead of a regular hair tie.

The bedroom door burst open. Switch stormed in red-faced and hair-mussed, slender hands barely catching the door before its handle could hit the wall.

"I found someone," he said, easing the door shut before sitting hard in one of the dining sets.

"What happened?" Vorrin and Pins said together.

"Nothing. Like I said. It just takes a while to find soldiers who aren't busy."

"Switch, you're shaking," Vorrin said, his voice falling into the firm tone of his old station.

Switch looked down at his trembling hands with a surprised expression.

Switch clenched them. "I'm not scared or anything. I'm just mad."

"What happened?" Vorrin pressed again, this time summoning the authority Switch responded to.

"It's just soldiers being soldiers," the manservant spat. "Being crass and difficult and idiotic as usual. I swear, this is why I dropped out of the military. They're all so stupid. But of course, they can't let it go. I'm a traitor because I didn't fight in the war and even more so because I serve a Totholi consort." Switch's tone grew sharp and sarcastic. "Apparently, it's very unpatriotic of me to be at the beck and call of a Totholi general. Oh, and I think I'm better than them because of my cushy safe job and better pay and face-to-face meetings with the Empress."

At that last part, Switch let out a little gasp and pinned his lips tightly shut.

Another time, Vorrin would have seized that slip-up. He knew that Empress Callista was getting information on his behavior from someone. His manservants had been the most likely suspects, and this confirmed it. However, this was not the time.

"I didn't know you were military," Vorrin said instead.

"Was." Switch looked steadily at the ground a couple feet ahead, clenching his fists harder so the knuckles turned white. Vorrin knew that look. He kept dry anger at the forefront of his emotions, but he was probably fighting off tears. "I only squired for a year. I hate soldiers."

"Is that why you sometimes have a hard time with me?"

Switch flushed a little and a long pause stretched over the room. "Maybe. I don't know. I guess sometimes I see the resemblance. But you're not like them. I know that. Even if you are aggravating." He cleared his throat abruptly. "Sorry."

"Did the oh-so-proper and strict Switch make a joke?" Vorrin said with a mock gasp.

Switch rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept up his face. "Don't tell anyone."

"They're just being jerks because they're jealous," Pins piped in.

Vorrin nodded. "As a once stupid soldier, I have to agree. For men like them, there is a pecking order, and they're worried you're on top. And they hate that, so they're trying to convince you that you're not."

"But I don't want to be a part of their stupid pecking order at all," Switch said.

“Then you need to find the biggest instigator and give them a good punch in the nose.”

“You are a soldier.”

Vorrin shrugged. “It’ll at least show them you’re not going to take their rubbish.”

“But it’s so unrefined…”

“And they are? They’re a bunch of insecure bottom feeders with too much space in their skulls. I’m telling you, the only thing people like that respect is brute force.”

“I’m really beginning to doubt your strategic ability as Totholan’s best general.”

Vorrin chuckled. “Well, I can always punch one for you. I doubt they’re allowed to hit me back.”

Switch let out a long sigh, though it wasn’t entirely exasperated. He scrubbed his tearless face. "I’ll think about it. Pretty sure letting the royal consort get into fights isn’t a much better look. Anyway, the escort is waiting outside when you're ready."

Vorrin stood, stretching his arms over his head. “Time for me to go then. Guess I better show this little guppy who’s really in charge. ”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t worry, Switch. I know how to handle grunts.”

“Seriously don’t.”

Vorrin only grinned, flexing one of his bare arms before sweeping out the door.

As he stepped out into the hall, the soldier leaning against the outside wall stood up straight. He was about what Vorrin had expected: young, a little below average height, and built just enough to have real muscle but still feel uncomfortable in his own skin. Vorrin could see the inexperience in his shifting posture.

“Good morning, Royal Consort,” the soldier said offering a short bow. Obviously, his feelings on a Totholi consort were much different when face-to-face with him. “My name is Raoden. I’ll be escorting you.”

“Yeah, I’m not remembering that,” Vorrin said, stepping past the man without a second glance and starting toward the training ground. “How about I call you Button?”

“Well, er…”

“Perfect. Come on."

The soldier scrambled after him, needing to use his full stride to keep pace at Vorrin's side. As they reached the end of the hall, he angled toward the right, the direction to the main entrance of the arena.

Vorrin turned left.

"Um, I think the training grounds are--"

"I know how to get there," Vorrin said.

He strode the full length of the hall, turning left and then left again. He barely glanced at the other soldiers and servants they passed along the way, only stopping when he reached a worn, narrow door the same grey as the stone around it.

"Royal Consort--"

Vorrin was already pushing inside.

"Hello, boys!"

The whole room scrambled to their feet. A couple of men fell off their beds. One hit his head on the bunk above him as he rushed to stand.

“So this is where you all go to slack off.”

One of the soldiers without his shirt or shoes squirmed. “We’re off duty, your…Royal Consort…sir.”

“Of course. Don't mind me.” He mosied down the aisle, looking idly around with each step, gaze skimming past the soldiers enough that they dropped their heads to avoid eye contact. “I just wanted a look at my old quarters before Button here escorts me to the armory. Well, close enough. These were the squire quarters. You're all full-fledged soldiers, aren't you?"

"Er...most of us," Button interceded from behind. When Vorrin glanced back at him, the man stood by the entrance, looking desperate to lead Vorrin back out. "Military rankings work differently in Avarose. Um...should we perhaps..."

"Really? That's interesting." Vorrin sat himself down on one of the now-empty bunks. He crossed his ankle over his knee and leaned back on one hand. "How is it done in Avarose?"

Button looked around the room, but no one else spoke up. "Royal Consort Vorrin, I really think..."

Vorrin raised his brows. "Yes?"

"Uh...well, in Totholan there are three titled ranks, right? Page, squire, and knight? Though of course some knights can reach the higher rank of Knight General or the highest rank, like yourself, Grand Master."

Vorrin shook his head. "King Duras was the Grand Master. I'm just a general."

Button blinked and glanced toward his comrades and back. "Respectfully, sir...that wasn't what we were told in our briefing. That's why the Empress specifically--" He abruptly cut off and cleared his throat. "My point was Totholi military is more simplistic."

One of the soldiers snickered but stopped before Vorrin could identify who it was.

"Whereas Avarosian military is sort of...complicated."

Vorrin leaned his chin into his hand. "Oh?"

"There are ranks within ranks. Sort of like your knights, but with much more variety." He lifted one end of the wide scarlet sash wrapped around his middle. Looking at the colors may help. The lowest rank is yellow. Children in training wear the palest shade and it deepens as they move up. Green is the next rank, usually utilized as messengers or apprentices to higher-ranked soldiers. Blue is reserved for military medics. Red is for ordained soldiers, again the palest shades are always reserved for those with the least experience. Generals wear black. The sovereign wears white. But only on the battlefield.

Vorrin closed his eyes a moment, tentatively summoning a memory. He could still picture that day perfectly. Empress Callista standing over him, half of her hair escaped from its braid, the long tails of her "white" sash whipping in the wind. In reality, it had only been white in small patches; the majority of it was dyed red with blood. The point of her blade pressed carefully into his throat. He'd swallowed. She'd grinned.

Vorrin's eyes shot back open. He pushed himself back to his feet, shoving the memory's emotions deep down and instead surveying the soldiers once again.

"It seems every one of you carries a red sash. I'm surprised."

"Sir?"

"It took thirty minutes for my manservant to acquire one of you. You do realize that a request from my servants is a request from me?"

Button bowed his head. "Yes, Royal Consort."

"Tell me, how long did you spend arguing, drawing straws, and over me instead of doing your duty."

Button sank so far between his shoulders he resembled a turtle. "Too long, Royal Consort."

A part of Vorrin wanted to punish them further for Switch's sake. But Button had admitted his fault without excuse. Vorrin had to give the man credit for that. Many of the men looked equally chastened. No need to press further when a reprimand was being received.

"I suggest being a little quicker next time," he finished.

"Yes, Royal--"

"You're not in charge of us, Tolothi," another soldier interrupted. The man was all wiry muscle and unruly hair. Vorrin noted that his sash was vermillion whereas many of the other's were crimson.

Vorrin stalked up to the man, gazing down at him from under half-lowered lids. "Am I not?"

"You're a pet."

"Argin," one of the crimson soldiers hissed warningly.

"A dog may be pampered and protected," Argin continued, meeting Vorrin's eyes. " but that doesn't make it less a dog. And a dog holds no authority no matter who it belongs to."

Vorrin only smiled. "You sleep in a bunk bed. I sleep beside the Empress. Maybe I am a dog, but between the two of us, I wonder who has more authority. I suppose if you're really concerned I could ask the Empress what she thinks."

Argin paled a fraction and clenched his teeth hard enough to crack. He ducked away from Vorrin's gaze. "Aren't you supposed to be practicing sparring or something?"

"You're right. Thank you, Kitty."

The man flushed equal parts embarrassment and anger.

"Come along, Raoden."

Button looked a little shocked at the usage of his real name, but he quickly fell in step, following Vorrin through the door at the back of the room into another room of bunks, this one empty. The Knights' old quarters. They passed rows and rows of beds before exiting another door into the armory.

Unlike the barracks, this room had been completely reorganized. Probably so it could hold all the weapons that the Avarosian army had brought with them.

Vorrin ran his hand down the row of spears lined along the wall. "Any limits on which weapons I'm allowed to use?"

"I don't think Empress Callista established a rule." Button looked around the room nervously. "Maybe nothing too sharp?"

Vorrin tsked. "Do you have so little faith in yourself that I need a handicap?"

"When it comes to you, sir, yes."

"Really? You don't think you could stop me if I was armed? A little concerned for the person who is supposed to keep me from escaping.

Button swallowed. "I don't know, sir. But I know it took the Empress to defeat you, and I couldn't win against the Empress." He gathered himself taller. "However, Royal Consort, I don't think you plan on running. Even if I fell, there are at least a hundred guards between here and the end of the palace grounds. They would catch you immediately."

Button's tone begged Vorrin not to try anything. He almost seemed to be trying to convince himself as much as Vorrin. He was right though. Vorrin suspected that having a watch was more about preventing him from stealing weapons than stopping an escape attempt.

"I'll stick with the quarterstaff then," Vorrin said, plucking the long wooden pole off the wall. "I only want to practice some movements today anyway."

Button nodded, relieved, and they exited the armory into the training grounds. A light breeze wafted the smell of the dusty earth, and the musty hay of the training dummies to his nose. Vorrin closed his eyes, breathing in the familiar scents. It had been a long time.

The quarterstaff felt a little strange in his hands. Though his hands instinctively gripped the right places, the weapon no longer fit the same against his too-smooth palms.

Vorrin spun the staff a couple times before trying a stab. He stumbled a little and gritted his teeth. He'd overextended.

His immediate reaction was a surge of rage, but he exhaled the emotion slowly. This is fine. Just go back to the basics.

He fell into a defensive stance. Block, parry, stab. Block, parry, stab. He moved slowly, perfecting each movement as he went. After about four times, he picked up speed, throwing in a few dodging movements and thrusting out the pole in low and high attacks.

Button yawned from the sidelines.

Vorrin half-wanted to ask the guard to spar with him, but he doubted that was allowed. Maybe he should asked for two guards next time, one to spar with and another to watch him. Better yet, maybe he could begin bargaining for the release of his soldiers. Not at all at once, but one or two at a time. He missed their familiar company. Not to mention, he’d need them if this uprising was going to work.

Having enough of the repetitive movements, Vorrin imagined an invisible enemy before him. He’d done this all the time as a boy when the other pages refused to be his sparring partner. Having Captain Kenric for a mentor had remedied that, but he’d still found solace in solo sparring once in a while.

He lowered into a defensive stance, holding the quarterstaff diagonal from his body. He circled slowly, searching for weak spots, knowing his enemy was doing the same. Abruptly, he thrust the staff forward. The enemy dodged, swinging back at him violently. He barely stepped back in time, throwing the staff sideways to block the blow. He gritted his teeth and widened his stance further against the imaginary weight. He shoved forward hard, knocking the figment backward. He stalked forward, raising his elbows in preparation for the finishing jab. He thrust the weapon forward, and...

A very visible, very real sword collided with the end of his staff.

Vorrin inhaled sharply, retreating back a couple steps and instinctively throwing out his quarterstaff in front of him. It took a couple moments for him to make sense of the red-and-gold-clad figure in front of him.

Empress Callista glanced at the weapon then casually back to his face with a widening grin. She slid her sword back into its sheath. “Hello, dear."

Vorrin exhaled slowly, doing his best to hide the tension ebbing from his muscles. He'd felt like a hair-trigger ready to fire. "What are you doing here?"

"What, I can't visit my consort? you weren't in your quarters; I was told I could find you here." Her eyes roved back to the weapon. "It's been a while since I've seen you in action. Serious as ever I see."

Vorrin furrowed his brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Some people spar for fun, you know. But you have that same look you have in battle. Fighting isn't a game to you, is it?"

Where did she get off acting like she knew anything about him?

"I spar for fun," he said a little sharper than intended. "But there's nothing fun about swinging a stick around by yourself. Besides, if I'm going to regain all my skills, I can't afford to be lax."

Empress Callista let out a little amused breath. "Well then, we'll need to spar together sometime."

Vorrin's face warmed. "I wasn't implying that I wanted--"

"I like the outfit," she interrupted. "Very classic."

“Well, it was in my wardrobe.”

Empress Callista gasped in mock offense. “Are you suggesting that I gave you those clothes just because I wanted to see them on you?”

“Is that not true?”

“Well, maybe.” She winked, her smile landing somewhere firmly between flirtatious and wicked. However, the sly curve quickly straightened into a more serious expression. “I didn’t know what you looked like until the first time we faced each other in battle. I had no idea what would suit you, so we brought lots.”

“You didn’t think we had clothes here?” Vorrin said.

“Dressing you in our styles was intentional."

"And now?"

"It still is. But your comfort is also important, so we'll find a compromise."

Vorrin let the butt of the quarterstaff rest against the ground. He leaned into it like a walking stick. "Dressing me like an Avarosian isn't going to win over the people. They're just going to be mad that I'm betraying our culture."

"Maybe. But it does show them who you belong to." Her gaze darkened. "And it's not just for your people. Mine need reminders too."

Vorrin's insides went cold. Empress Callista was so confident, so domineering in every action and word, he'd never considered that her people might have as many disagreements with this plan as he did. He was safe...wasn't he?"

"Anyway, darling," she said, shattering the frozen feeling encasing him, "as much as I love our little tiffs, I came to wish you farewell. I'm heading to the border this afternoon."

Vorrin remembered what Pins had said about the Empress saying goodbye. He sincerely hoped that neither manservant had shared his interest in her departure. "You don't need to do that. My servants would have told me."

"Ah. Of course." She cleared her throat and gathered herself up a little straighter. "It's a two-week trip--5 days to the border and another 5 back. I would have felt strange saying nothing at all."

Vorrin didn't quite know how to respond, so he stayed silent.

The empress cleared her throat again. Wait a minute. Did she actually feel awkward right now?

“Is there anything you need before I go?” she said

"I need your soldiers to stop terrorizing my manservants."

The empress's forehead furrowed. Not confusion, or doubt. More...disciplinary. The look of a parent when they're told their child has been caught teaching curse words.

"Explain."

"Pins gets his wages partially stolen whenever he sends money back home to his mother. And Switch gets harassed when he makes requests on my behalf. It has to do with serving a Totholi, which, I would like to remind them, is literally his job."

Empress Callista raised her brows. "Switch and Pins?"

"That's what I call them."

She didn't push it further.

Vorrin continued on. "They're in positions of power and servants to the Empire. They're abusing those positions for personal gain. If it were my men they'd be cleaning everyone's armor for the next week. Or be working directly with me until they wised up."

Vorrin caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Perhaps his voice had risen too loud because Button shifted uncomfortably from his post at the arena's edge. His eyes flicked their way, briefly connecting with Vorrin's. The young man's shoulders leaped a little, and he hastily averted his gaze to the empty space ahead of him.

The young man had been properly chastened earlier, but Vorrin wanted him to bring this information back to the others.

"They can't be allowed to act this way, can they?" he said, letting his anger raise his voice even louder.

"No," the empress said firmly. "Their behavior is unacceptable. Unfortunately, I don't have control of every action the people in my employ make. However, I will be alerting my generals and captains of the issue. They should provide some correction. Let me know if it continues."

Vorrin nodded. Despite the many things that bothered him about the empress, the one thing he could count on was that she was fair. King Duras had allowed, even encouraged, a toxic dynamic in his army. One where power and physical strength reigned as dictators. It had taken a long while for Vorrin to clean up once he became Knight General, so he couldn't help but appreciate the empress's standards.

She tipped her head to catch his gaze. "I assure you, Vorrin. The trust I have in my army is critical to me. I allow error, and I allow redemption, but those I deem untrustworthy have no place with me.

"I know. Thank you." The words came out before Vorrin knew what he was saying. To his surprise, he actually meant them.

"Anyway," he said, diverting the attention from his last words. "Why are you going to the border?"

Empress Callista smiled thinly. "There's confidential information I don't want to be written in a letter. At least not one that passes many hands. Not only that, but I'm going to be surveying the area for construction."

"Construction?"

"For the new capital. With the kingdoms merging, I can't stay here. Avarose would be outraged. But I can't return as if nothing happened either, or I risk losing my foothold. We need a neutralized city equally distant between both locations."

"Idosa won't be the capital anymore?" Vorrin didn't know why he hadn't thought about that sooner. Technically, Idosa had ceased being the capital the moment Empress Callista won the war. Yet, everything remained so much the same, the castle, the stationing of the guard, the mannerisms of the city... He'd never imagined this type of reform.

"Don't act so sullen. This will be a massive change for all of us. Streles has been the Avarosian capital for centuries. I'm anticipating a heated argument with every noble and advisor I have over the next few months."

"And me?"

It wasn't a very articulate question, but the empress seemed to understand.

"You'll come with me, of course. Not only to the new capital but to Avarose as well. The new city will take time to build, so we may travel back and forth for some time."

"I could stay here." That was something consorts did, right? Have their own homes? At least, King Duras had gifted his mistresses residences within and without the city. Then again, many of them were not official consorts. Still, it wasn't as if Callista needed him outside Idosa. If she gave him this place, he could fix it. It wouldn't be exactly as it was, but it could be close.

Even as he tried to convince himself of nobler intentions, the truth gnawed at him. He was scared. Outside of battle and expeditions for the King, he'd never lived anywhere else. He'd grown up here. He'd become something here.

Empress Callista shook her head, a little sympathy peeking through her steady expression. "You're my token. A representation of our countries' union. You'll always be with me."

Always?

Vorrin's lungs suddenly felt tight. Like he'd been shoved into a space--a cage--too tight for his body.

The empress's hands found his face, stroking his cheekbones with her thumbs. "It's alright, love. I will take care of you."

As if that was what worried him. Like he was a child who needed consoling about moving away from his friends. As if this was just about him and not everyone in Idosa--no Tothalan! And him a helpless bird with clipped wings.

No. No, don't think about that.

He released a shuddering breath.

He could stop this. None of this had to happen if he completed his mission. Calm. Calm. He just had to endure a while.

Vorrin stepped back out of her reach and looked down at her gold-button travel boots.

"Good luck, on your journey."

Empress Callista's hands dropped to her side, but she stepped forward, regaining the ground between them. "If you need anything, if you have any trouble, send for me. I'll return."

"Ah, so you expect trouble," Vorrin joked, not quite able to summon the humor into his smile.

She gently took his chin, raising his face to her eyes before withdrawing again. Her eyes appeared almost molten in the sunlight.

"I will be back before you know it."

Vorrin wasn't sure if that was meant as a comfort or a warning, maybe both. It made him feel strange.

He took two long steps back this time, properly distancing himself.

"Well, goodbye then. Bring me back something nice." With that, he turned his back on her, striding back to Button. "I'd like to go back to my room now."

Vorrin allowed the soldier to lead him through the proper exit this time. As they left, he felt the empress's eyes following him.

He did not look back.

Taglist:

@whatiswhump, @aprilraine, @ilovescarletwitch, @conniedensazation, @feedthebirds, @bloodinkandashes

#love thy enemy #creative writing #empress x general #empress x soldier #royalty #royal x soldier #writing series #fiction #writblr #writeblr #enemies to lovers #slowburn #writing #thepenultimateword #chapter #orginal characters #orginal story

65 notes · View notes

sapphire-heart-tippy · 1 month

Text

"Have you ever looked into the eyes of a cobra? The snake is divine... like me, Beleza Muscadine."

(Bel is a transgender man! He/him/his, xe/xem/xis, and they/them/theirs)

Bel looks different here (yellow/orange eyes, different outfit, fangs, more intimidating), than he looks normally (dark brown eyes, slightly different outfit, slightly crooked teeth, very friendly and extroverted) because of the cursed jewel he has acquired

He slowly becomes more snake-like and pretty much becomes a human/snake demon throughout the story

53 notes · View notes

thebarontheabyss · 6 months

Text

What is the purpose of existence?

For gods, the answer is clear. Born from purpose, they embody an idea, a singular drive that defines their very essence.

Mortals, however, traverse the realms unburdened by such destinies—lost yet liberated and unchained. Because as much as a purpose will give you solace, it will also bind you to it, forevermore.

The Raven exists for a purpose known only to him. Age after age, he's watched over the Abyss, witnessing its guardians change like the seasons.

Now, you stand at the precipice, the Abyss's latest guardian.

Your purpose, if any, remains a mystery, perhaps one the Raven alone can unravel. Yet, unlike him, you bask in the liberty to forge —or forsake your destiny.

What will you do with your freedom?

Will you bring change, or will you end bounded, just like the Raven, to a purpose almost old as the cosmos itself?

58 notes · View notes

theghostbunnie · 4 months

Text

Yea..

#ponytown #oc #art #my oc shit #digital artwork #pony #artwork #oc artwork #oc art tag #my orginal characters #orginal character #drawing #digital drawing #digital artist #artists on tumblr #fictional characters #digital art #digital illustration #character design

42 notes · View notes

kimiko24-art · 2 months

Text

Kimiko and Bruno~ <3

18 notes · View notes

daughterofbearsandrivers · 6 months

Text

Horror | 1.0 `yautja`

(<<) (>>)

Vague imagery of honey dipped college memories suddenly tainted with screaming and the indescribable sensation of hearing literal bodies being torn into pieces. The cracking of ribs so each bone snapped from the sheer pressure, flesh squished together as blood vessels burst and spewed out geysers of blood mixed in with their bodily fluids. The stomach lining, organs, soft fleshy innards not covered by bone was consumed like hard liquor on Saturday club night.

Being hit by a car or shanked for belongings in parking lot would've been considered a calculated mercy or bittersweet memory compared to the last moments of the town's population in the past forty-eight hours.

The faint scent of gasoline tingled her nostrils, sending a very faint high to her brain like the chemicals in the pools does. Resisting the urge to cough to flex the muscles of her body in the cramped space of the trunk, the female waited several moments in silence for the slightest shifting of movement or prowling seekers looking to harvest on the strength inept species. Feeling around for the latch on the backseat, bright midday sun poured in through the opening, she inched it forward as she paused every second or so.

'Goddamn it's bright.'

She noticed the torn edges of her emerald painted nails once she fully leaned the seat forward, stringy grime matted locks absorbed the rising heat in the car. Glints of other vehicles windshields momentarily made blackish spots float in her vision, she opened a water bottle once she slid herself out of the car's trunk. The milk spoiled, eggs overheated and bread crusty.

'Good morning America, today's going to be sunny clear skies, maybe chance of rain showers, highs in the whatever seventies and lows- oh shitzerdoodle.'

Leaning on her side to stay within the cover of the car's seat position, she peeked around the edges of the leathery seat, seeing a black mass creep by the front of the vehicle. Ducking down though avoiding on moving her weight around too much, the female stayed in that awkwardly tense angle until she heard it bash through a boutique's doorway a street down.

Sorting through the groceries, she salvaged whatever wasn't affected by the mid summer day heat. Collecting granola bars, a flashlight, screwdriver and some bullets, she found scattered underneath the driver's seat, into a fanny pack. Pressing the button for the window, it slowly slid down. Immediately the intense heatwaves of summer hit her skin, soaking into her body as her clothes suddenly felt too thick to wear at the moment once she eased herself out. 'In this heat I bet ice cream and water would boil. Why couldn't it be a hazy day of clouds.'

Crouching down a little she steered clear from fragmented and little clusters of splintered glass, her footsteps being silent as she could manage. Keeping herself fully aware to pause every few minutes to take a thorough survey of the area, ensuing she didn't have any creatures tailing secretly. Her eyes and top of her head peeking just over the edges of windows, hoods and tailgates of vehicles left stationary in the main street. The crevices of her body's figure little by little condensed with sweat.

Padding herself down a little, she silently lamented as she felt the grains of sand, smears of oil further clogged her pores. All that hard work going down the drain the longer she stayed in the heat and in these ripped and frayed clothes. Without notice her heartbeat sped up, an automatic nearly cemented reaction to the soft skittering of talons, menacing hisses and breathy snarls passing through frosted razor sharp teeth. She crouched down, doing a quick three sixty view of side to side, top to bottom. Seeing all the possibilities where her position made her vulnerable and potential to life ending choices. The vehicles were spaced enough for running and could be jumped across by anything. Though not many of the vehicles had high suspensions to crawl under. And several of the vehicles blocked her in, preventing her from crawling over the hoods from how big or sloped the hood is. Calculating the estimated seconds it would take to jump up, crawl onto the vehicle, run then do the same thing. Another raspy hiss, like sizzling acid in a softer tone. She flinched, her body contracting to still every nerve then slowly releasing to edge forward in a slight crouch.

They were moving by her, a mere vehicle apart.

A few feet away from her fate of being harvested and once again encapsuled in goop to be the fertilizer of an alien colony. She thickly swallowed, forcing back images depicting her chest being tore open from the inside, the sickening sensation of crunched bones. One step, the next and then her body responded in kind. Her fingers kept thumbed over the smooth fabric of her fanny pack, a small assurance against an illusion of control.

'My nails are so damaged and cracked. I should take them off.... though those charms are pretty.'

Her hands turned a bit red from touching hot asphalt. The shattering of a window made her heart burst into a flurry of emotion though she made herself keep stationary. Slowing peeking back over a window, she noticed they had rummaged through a van. More glass sprinkled to the ground. A bony black mass that showed every ridge of it's unnatural existence skittered then body slammed into a vehicle as they fought over scraps of a child.

'Damnit, that's so disgusting- don't, don't think about it. Keep moving.'

Hurrying in the most silent way possible, she crawled underneath a truck and stayed there for a moment to reassess the situation. Her heartbeat had calmed to a considerable pace without her having to manually breath slower. What she didn't calculate is the sudden crashing sound on the truck's roof, making it cave in as the vehicle itself sunk down a little from the weight. Seeing it's shadow on the asphalt, she realized it's the other creature.

He's crouched, his head swiveling around for a quick moment as it let out a roar. A shinking noise of a blade. Those spindly creatures screeched and lunged for him or a very few ran away.

Curled up beneath the vehicle, she felt it's weight shift and sway as the muscular thing fought. A couple vehicles exploded. Heat razed the ground, acidic blood dripped and splattered onto metal and paved rock. Melting it cleanly beyond repair.

'I can't stay here.'

The truck's undercarriage smacked against her head only solidified that thought. She let out a yelp then instantly felt her heart speed up, the accompanying blush and her mind working nanoseconds ahead. She turned her head and saw one of the black creatures hissing loudly at her while the two species created carnage just on her other side. It tried to reach it's talons inside, she fumbled for her screwdriver in the fanny pack.

Yanking it out, she hit the asphalt several times but got her few strikes in against the black alien, making it rethink it's strategy. Knowing it'll likely try to crawl in, she kept wildly swinging her screwdriver around while she felt around in the fanny pack for the few bullets.

The humanoid creature in weird armor slammed a black alien into a car.

She flinched as more acidic blood dripped down from it's broken skeleton. Finally pulling out a handful of bullets, she tossed the shells across the street and right by the burning vehicles destroyed by a plasma cannon blasts.

A roar and an answering screech, more limbs being cut and slashed into individual pieces.

Letting out a sharp exhale, she swung and frantically swiped at the black creature now joined by two more. One of their talons cut into her lower calf, nearly dragging her out before the tossed bullets ignited. They went off and ricocheted, startling the black creatures a few feet and making the beige colored creature snap it's attention to find the source.

Without hesitation she made a break for it, keeping ducked down as she rolled out on the other side of the truck, scrambling to her feet and sprinting hard. She vaulted, slid over the hoods of vehicles to the other side of the street. Noticing some other black creatures crash out of boutiques and whatever woodwork they came from, chased after her.

She wasn't from here though she did know which streets and areas had been the tourist hotspots. Bigger buildings, more hiding spots. Running barefoot on the hot streets of the town, she didn't look back and she didn't stop or veer off to hide. Pumping herself faster than ever, the female saw the distant shining chain link fence of the fair grounds. Darting to her right, she went down a sandy hill of pointed stones, passing by a few tall cactus before coming right up to the fence.

Jumping it, she crawled up and felt the links snag on her jeans to sharply pinprick her skin. Throwing herself over it to land in a puff of dust, she heard them crash into the fence and scramble up it as she continued to run.

She passed through the carnival, her feet sinking a little into the fine sand and feeling the gravel drag on the soles of her heel. Her sights settled on a merry go round, heading over to the controls, she bashed her hands against everything until the ride turned on and the music blasted out of the speakers. Every noise being amplified in her mind.

Their screeches raked her eardrums and made her body turn cold despite the very dry summer heat.

Running in the opposite direction, she went into a house of mirrors. Her figure reflected on the narrow figure warping surfaces. Taking a breath of air, she slowed her footsteps and moved deeper into the entertainment house. Her cheeks red and bright from exertion and anxiety, her heart thundering in her ribcage, she closely listened for any sounds of the black creatures as her breathing seemed to drown out everything else, even her thoughts.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧┍━☽【❖】☾━┑✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧*ੈ✩‧₊˚

A shift of movement as the female rubbed her upper arms, one of her hands keeping a hold on the flashlight she had. She stared at her reflections, the afterthought of an idling mind being how she needed a shower and change of clothes. As she still kept finding small pieces of that secreted goop on her person she'd been cocooned in only hours ago.

Rubbing away the crusted blood on her wrist, the female let out a silent sigh. Slowing getting up, she paused every few moments with her head slightly tilted and her body making minimal movement to determine whether or not she's safe to breathe.

Measuring her footsteps she walked to the exit that's aesthetically covered by a curtain, listening for another moment she heard nothing. Though her heart pounded a bit harder. Holding onto her flashlight, she noticed no sun shined at the bottom of the curtains or made the fabric seem thinner from it's light.

It must've been hours but at this point, hiding and waiting out for hours seemed to become her only source of exercise and constant state of what her life has come to. Peeking out, she drew the curtain to the side with the end of her flashlight's handle. The orange bulbed lights of the solar controlled lights were on, the sky completely black and the desert terrain standing still just like her.

As if the world now knew the events of what happened in the last five days changed the course of mankind's present and future forever.

The female gently tested her weight on the wooden steps before descending down the short staircase. On a last second thought, she took the curtains with her. Wrapping it around her figure like a jacket and dress, she quietly walked through the fair grounds.

Popcorn bags, cotton candy cones and some push toys laid on the dirt. Some lights of rides flickered like a dying candle running on the last threads of it's wick. Her flashlight in one hand and currently unlit, she went to a small gift shop. There was no phone or landline and no internet for the working iPhone she found dropped on the floor. Picking out a shirt one size smaller than normal, couple water bottles and some paper towels despite no one being around, she still went behind the cashier counter to change.

Uncapping the lids of the water bottles, she dunked the paper towels in the water, wiping it over her skin as she took most of the dirt off. Scrubbing and washing away the grime, blood, sweat and essentially the memories that came with the reason there's blood in the first place.

Sliding on the new shirt, hoodie, wrapping the curtains around her shoulders like a strap for future purposes. She found a water basin for apple bobbing, she dunked and shook her hair free what she could. A relief of one problem being dealt with settled her thoughts. Still no shoes to wear.

That night she opened one granola bar for dinner and slept in the cubbyhole of where they kept the extra plushies and boxes of other prizes.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧┍━☽【❖】☾━┑✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧*ੈ✩‧₊˚

There was no hurry to leave or go anywhere though one designation remained present in her mind the next day when she woke in the afternoon. Her family- well her grandparents had a place up in Alaska. If her memory served her right, which both fortunately and unfortunately did, there'd be enough canned food and natural resources for her to survive there without any worry. They hadn't sold the property but kept it as the ideal family vacation house in the winter.

With that her mind she gathered up four water bottles, dozens of granola bars, candy and some pop tarts from the fair grounds remaining food supply. Finding another flashlight, some batteries and a phone charger in the abandoned vehicles nearby. Apparently no one had kept extra shoes in their once day to day work life. Sliding on her backpack and keeping her fanny pack, she walked the cactus and brush ridden terrain.

SIDENOTE | reblog, comments and lmk if you wanted to be tagged for the next part.

43 notes · View notes

pinkurbanfictionhaven · 2 months

Text

1- FUCK ME AT FASHION WEEK

The sound of metal hangers scraping rapidly across dozens of clothing racks full of high-priced designer clothing filled up the large NYC penthouse.

The clothing was delivered a few hours prior and had yet to be stored inside Nicki's three-floor closet, so the racks sat in the center of her living room instead.

Nicki groaned annoyedly as she searched maniacally for the white ensemble and matching fur jacket that she requested for her new wardrobe assistant, Trina to pack into her wardrobe for New York City Fashion Week.

"I swear I can not believe this shit! I am scheduled to be at the Tom Ford show in less than a fucking hour and I'm still here struggling to put an outfit together because my assistant can't follow simple instructions and do her damn job!" She ranted, storming into her bedroom to put on her jewelry.

"You know you can just wear something else right? It is the girl's first week doing this job so I am sure that it was an honest rookie mistake, Cookie." Her friend Thembi defends the young assistant.

Nicki eyeballs her, watching her lay lazily across her California King Bed, fully dressed down for the gods in the latest couture while stuffing handfuls of Smart Popcorn into her mouth.

Thembi 👆🏾

Her new stylist, Maher Jridi handpicked the perfect designer outfits for her to slay fashion week, and she felt stressed that everything wasn't in order since she is a bit of a perfectionist.

"Why don't you help me put an outfit together since you know so fucking much!" Nicki rants, tossing her ankle-length weave to the side to clasp her diamond-encrusted necklace around her neck.

Thembi sits upright in Nicki's lavish bed, analyzing her best friend that she has known for years as she shuffled around the gigantic bedroom, complaining about everything under the sun.

Nicki stops near her light-up makeup vanity to spritz some sweet-smelling perfume onto her chest, wrists, and neck.

Staring down at the perfume bottle, she realized that she picked up his favorite perfume scent on her out of habit, it frustrated the hell out of her, causing her to suck her teeth and put the bottle down.

Nicki hated to admit it, but her subconscious mind was on him.

Nicki has been moody and bitchy since they touched down in New York a few days ago, Thembi and all of Nicki's entourage and beauty team couldn't help but notice the change in her.

"What about this red dress, Cookie?" Thembi climbs down from the bed and approaches the various racks of clothing, pulling the dress from a rack after eyeing it from across the room.

This is cute! Right, Cookie?" Thembi holds up a cute short studded dress to show Nicki. "Pair it with some sexy ass thigh highs and you're all set." She runs her hand over the fabric.

Nicki peeks her head out of the bathroom door and cringes at the sight of the dress.

"No! that's basic! Are you trying to turn me into one of these basic bitches?"

Nicki frowned her face in the mirror as she adjusted her glued mink lashes and primped.

"I have to look perfect and sexy, the paparazzi will be there and you know they live for dragging people for their attire. It's bad enough that my name is all up in the news for this Remy bullshit."

Her friend walks into the bathroom, standing beside Nicki as she brushes her long tresses, she stares into the mirrored reflection at her, watching closely with her tongue stuck inside of her cheek.

After a brief moment of thinking, she grins to herself when she comes to the revelation of what is going on with her temperamental friend.

"I just had an epiphany..." Thembi utters knowingly.

Nicki turns her head and looks at her. "I swear if you say I need to go to Tiffany's I'm straight backhanding you back to Queens!" She smiles adorably, lightening up a bit.

"No, crazy! I just figured out why you've been giving everybody a stink-ass attitude all week long and why you've been screening all of your cell calls, throwing tantrums, and spending just a little too much time in the shower with the removable shower head! You, my friend, need some dick!" Thembi exclaimed.

Nicki's neck quickly snapped in Thembi's direction and she gave her a hostile expression, side-eyeing her.

Nicki couldn't help but become a bit offended by her comments, she just threw major shade. Even though it was true tea, she didn't appreciate her friend being so blunt about it.

In reality, it had been a treacherous three weeks since Nicki got the release that she so desperately desired, she was on a sex strike after a heated argument with the guy that she regularly scheduled her freaky dick appointments with and she had way too much pride to crack first.

He and she had a hostile relationship, they argued and bickered whenever they were in the same room and vowed that they hated each other with a burning passion, but a year ago after a drunken night, one of their heated arguments led to them hate fucking on the private balcony of his hotel room and it's been a fuck fest ever since.

They still hate each other, but the sex between them is so fucking explosive and addicting that they can't control themselves.

So here they are, two enemies stuck between hating each other and fucking each other. The turmoil was real.

"Please, not everyone is overly dick obsessed like you ok? I am living my best life over here!" Nicki retorts, slamming her bedazzled brush down on the counter.

Thembi gives her a knowing look, twisting her lips to the side, putting her hand on her hip, and narrowing her eyes.

Nicki kisses her teeth and lets out a loud frustrated shriek, throwing her head backward in anguish and whining.

"Fine, bitch! Fine! Is it that obvious?! Fuck! I've been dickless for three whole weeks and I feel like ripping all of my hair out! You happy?" Nicki rants, throwing yet another tantrum.

Thembi just stares at her in amusement before they both burst into a fit of laughter.

"Bitch, I knew that something had to be up when you were aggressively humping that big unicorn floaty in Gucci's music video last weekend!" Thembi exclaims.

"You know I ain't got no man, sis! Stop playing these games!" Nicki whines.

"Well, what about this mystery guy that you've been fucking on the low and refuse to tell me or our other girls about?" Thembi questions.

"Nicki!" They suddenly hear, Maher calling from the front of the penthouse.

Nicki smiles cheekily in triumph since he just saved her from the awkward conversation.

"Hehe! Nice try, sis!" She says, and playfully sticks her tongue out at her friend before speed walking out of the bathroom.

Thankfully, Maher found an eye-catching last-minute outfit for her and quickly assisted her with putting it on.

It was already bedazzled so the added jewelry was no longer needed.

They all left the penthouse suite fifteen minutes later and arrived at the runway show fashionably late, just before the show began.

Nicki took her seat front row with her entourage of eight, crossing her legs and handing her Gucci purse off to her assistant.

The show began after a small speech from Tom Ford, she watched the slender male and female models as they strutted and sashayed up and down the catwalk in all of the latest designs while the cameras flashed.

Amid the chaos of the show, she felt eyes on her which caused her to scan around the crowded room.

When their eyes finally locked, her breathing became slightly uneven. The look that he gave her caused her legs to clench and her lips to tremble.

There he and his crew were, seated across from her on the other side of the stage.

Nicki wasn't expecting him to be in New York, let alone at fashion week since he wasn't listed as one of the show's performers and the fashion shows weren't usually his thing, he found them boring.

Damn it, he looked fucking edible, he was clean-cut and dressed down in a denim jean jacket and basic attire, but he still had a way of making the simplest of outfits look so sexy and his own.

Nicki could feel herself getting wet from the sight of him alone, the minute she saw the lecherous gleam in his eyes, her pussy started throbbing like rapid a heartbeat.

He blatantly disregarded the models on the runway and continued sensually glancing across the room at her, bluntly eyeing her entire body and biting his lip.

Thankfully, he had on dark designer sunglasses, so it wasn't noticeable to the random people surrounding them, but Nicki peeped it.

He ran his hand over his freshly groomed facial hair and subtly head-motioned for her to get up and meet him in the bathroom.

Nicki subtly shook her head no causing him to frown and glare at her. He never liked when she disobeyed him.

Nicki watched closely as his hand slid from his knee up to his thighs and he grabbed his bulge, letting her know exactly what would be waiting for her if she got up and went to the bathroom.

"Fuck, why the hell is he doing this right now. People could be watching him." She mumbles to herself and shifts in her seat uncomfortably, biting down on her lip.

Nicki decided to finally break the intense eye contact with him and focus on the show once again, she was only getting herself worked up by watching him and his teasing and she knew that eventually, someone in the crowd would catch on.

Every so often during the two-hour show, she would subtly glance over at him to see that his hungry eyes were still focused directly on her, it was very obvious that the outfit she had on was to blame for his sexual behavior.

When the fashion show finally ended, Nicki chatted with the designer and took photographs with celebs, models, and some of the people that she knew from the industry.

Her eyes scanned the entire room multiple times for Abel, but he seemed to have disappeared right after the end of the show. Nicki hoped he was headed for her penthouse.

In the meantime, Nicki decided to mingle with all of the other guests for a while to give him time to make it across town to her place and hopefully be laying in her bed hard and ready for her when she gets there.

It was hard to put on a fake smile and front when in reality she was anxious to get back to her place to get the life fucked out of her, but she did it.

"Nicki!" Tom called her from across the room before approaching her and taking both of her hands in his.

"Tommy! Thank you for inviting me tonight sweetie! I had such a wonderful time." She pecks both of his cheeks sweetly while giving him a big dimpled smile.

"Will you be coming to the after-party?" Tom asks as they begin to walk hand in hand towards the private exit of the venue.

"I don't think I'll be able to make it, I'm kind of tired and jet-lagged." She lies.

"Oh, nonsense! You simply must come, when you see the gift bags that I am giving away you'll be glad that you did. Come on! You can ride over in my limo with me!" Tom began to drag Nicki along by her arm, not taking no for an answer.

Nicki kept a very calm exterior, but on the inside, she was screaming and crying.

Tom didn't understand the urgency of this particular dick appointment, it was crucial!

The next hour was spent at the party, surrounded by boujee fucking partygoers and engaging in pointless conversation with people that she didn't give a damn about.

Nicki sipped slowly on her bubbling champagne as she maneuvered through the crowded party in search of someone in her entourage to drive her back home, she already knew that Abel would eventually become restless.

Nicki spent another twenty-five minutes searching around before she finally decided to call a car service to pick her up.

"Damn, no reception." She sets her glass down on a nearby table and wanders away to a secluded area of the party to get away from the loud, pulsing, blaring music.

Nicki stops near the entryway and she is so focused on her phone that she doesn't notice that the closet door behind her is opening.

A hand suddenly clasps over Nicki's mouth, muffling her scream, and she feels someone's arm grip her small waist, pulling her into the closet.

Nicki begins to shriek, tussle, and freak out until the dimly lit closet light flickers on and she comes face to face with Abel.

Her small balled-up fists began pounding against his chest in frustration and she screeched.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, you asshole?! You almost scared me half to death!" She places her hand against her rapidly heaving chest, attempting to calm down her racing heart.

Abel quickly cups his hand over her mouth, pressing her back against the door and reaching down to lock it.

"Would you shut up before we get caught together in here!" Abel gripes, staring down into her brown eyes.

"Well, you can't be popping out of fucking closets like a serial killer!" She retorts, slapping his hands away.

"Where the fuck have you been?" He whispers. "You have been ducking me for weeks. I have been calling and texting you like crazy!"

"I told your nappy-headed ass to leave me alone, you were on punishment and you still are." She rolls her neck and turns to leave the closet, but he pushes her back.

"Fuck out of here... You've kept that pussy away from me for weeks and I'm done with your bullshit aight? I'm not leaving New York without sliding deep inside of you so might as well dead all that fucking attitude and open your fucking legs." He whispers assertively into her ear.

Nicki opens her mouth slightly to speak, but he cuts her off by wrapping his hand around her fragile neck and giving it a slight squeeze; which caused the flood between her legs to worsen.

"Shut up and listen." He demands. "Do you have any idea how badly I have been craving your spoiled ass? You have me catching flights for some pussy like I'm one of these regular niggas out here!" He argues with her which was one of his favorite things to do since it always led to mind-blowing sex.

Nicki gave him an adorable dimpled grin, feeling his grip tighten around her neck, she felt accomplished and powerful knowing her pussy was so good that it had him hopping on private jets just to get a sample of it.

Nicki shrugs playfully. "Sounds personal, but it's not my problem. You could have found some pussy back in Toronto."

"Don't pull all that cute shit with me, Nicki. I already know that you missed this dick being inside of you. I can look into your eyes and see how badly you want me right now." He says cockily, causing Nicki to roll her eyes.

I bet that little pussy is dripping for me like a fucking faucet..." He whispers, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Nicki furrowed her eyebrows, she hated his cocky ass with a burning passion.

"Nigga-"

"Just shut the fuck up, we don't have much time." He whispers huskily, cutting her off.

He pulls her forward by her neck and crashes his lips against hers.

They begin to kiss fervidly, tongue-kissing each other roughly and fighting for dominance. Abel regains full control when he takes her tongue into his mouth and sucks it.

Nicki attempts to gain control by reaching up to grab his hair, but Abel grabs a firm hold of her wrists and forcibly pins them up above her head, causing her to whine out in frustration.

"You ain't running shit today, Peaches..." Abel grunts against her succulently soft lips, calling her the name that he gave because he said that her pussy juices are delicious and sweet and of course that peach-shaped ass of hers.

"We can't do it in here, someone will hear us." Nicki pants against his lips.

"Let me just taste it then.." He grunts back, biting her bottom lip, pulling it before trailing rough kisses down her neck to her chest.

Nicki shutters and bites her lip gently when she feels his hands running down her curves.

They slide over her hips and he grips her ass, his lips connect with her left breast and he swirls his tongue over it.

"This closet is too small for all of that..." she whines, feeling her skin heat up from his rough touching and kisses.

"I'll be fast, mama. I just really need to feel you right now." He whispers.

Abel's hands begin to fumble with Nicki's dress as he desperately tries to find a way to get it off of her.

The cage metal design of it makes it difficult, causing Abel to groan in frustration.

"Take this shit off now before I rip it off of you..." He grits.

Nicki snickers at his frustration before finding a way to slip the dress off.

It drapes to the floor, leaving her in a bedazzled bra and leather bottoms.

Abel eagerly begins to tear her shorts from her body, almost ripping them as his long tongue swirls circles around her exposed cleavage.

He roughly kisses and bites down her body until he reaches her belly button, he swirls his tongue around it before licking lower until he is staring at her pussy that is teasingly visible through her see-through pink thong.

Nicki looks down at him, breathing deeply and eager to feel his tongue. He just stares at it fixedly which is causing her to drip even more.

Nicki whimpers softly and slaps the side of his head to get his attention.

"Eat it, Nigga!" She demands, attempting to pull his face between her legs.

He instantly bites down on her inner thigh, making her squeak and hit him again.

"Keep playing and I'll walk out of here and leave you dripping..." He warns.

Before Nicki can come up with a clever comeback, he forces her thighs further apart, sliding his tongue up her slit.

"You petty ass motherfucker." She hisses, feeling her body tingling for more.

He snickers sinisterly and begins to suck on her clit through the thin fabric of her thong while staring up into her eyes.

"Your panties are already soaked, you were thinking about me huh, ma?" He whispers, moving them over to the side so he can taste more of her.

"Grind that pussy against my tongue, ma." He urges, firmly gripping her thighs while his tongue flips and slurps.

He tortures her clit and slips his fingers into her wet entrance which catches her off guard and causes her to scream out just a little too loudly. He punishes her by forcing his fingers deeper.

"Shut up and take this shit, you can take it can't you, baby?" He teases.

The sound of him sucking drives her insane, she was so fucking turned on that she slipped her breasts out of her bra and started kneading and licking her breasts which drove Abel crazy.

Nicki curses repeatedly under her breath and throws her head back in total ecstasy when he starts to suck harder just like she likes it, making her clit harden in his mouth, as his fingers relentlessly probed in and out of her.

Heat rushes throughout her body and in between her thighs.

Nicki's pussy was succulent, Abel could eat it all day if she'd allow it, his favorite place was in between her legs and he knew that his tongue game was the best that she'd ever had.

Her thighs tremble and her toes begin to curl inside of her boots when he begins to devour her as if she is the only form of nourishment that he would ever possess.

Nicki was a moaning mess, inching closer and closer to her release as her hips grind desperately and her breath hitched.

When Nicki is mere seconds away from exploding all over his face, Abel suddenly stops and stands with his face and beard coated in her wetness.

"What the fuck!" Nicki gripes, heaving slightly as her stomach twists in knots from her neared release that he ruined.

Nicki made an impassioned plea for him to continue pleasing her, but Abel had other plans, his desperate need for release made him uncaring. He had to fuck her.

Abel wasn't even trying to hear her whining, his only focus was filling her up with his cum.

He fumbled around with his belt until his erect dick was freed and pulsing hard in his hand.

Nicki was about to curse him out but he shut her up when he wordlessly pushed her back against the door, thrusting deep inside of her with one harsh movement.

All Nicki could do was gasp and hold onto him tight, closing her eyes and whimpering at the fullness that she felt with him inside of her.

"That shut you right the fuck up huh, baby girl?" He teases, proceeding to thrust his hips and give her the deep long strokes that she had been craving for three weeks.

He gripped her thigh, lifting one so that he could dig deeper while his other hand wrapped around her neck dominantly.

"Look at me, baby..." He demanded, leaning forward to kiss her lips deeply.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and he made intense eye contact with her, watching her mouth gape when he slid balls deep and her eyes water when he hit the right spot.

He loved watching her unravel before him, watching her body submit every time he slides inside of her and pushed her past her limits.

Nicki didn't have to utter a word, her expression said it all. Her eyes squinted and her moans filled his ears as she thrusts against him and cursed under her breath.

Abel was over all the slow shit after a while, he and Nicki never had the time to fuck slow, their sex was always rough and fast.

He released his firm grip on her neck and lifted her other thigh up, taking full control of her body.

Fear took over Nick's expression, she knew what was coming from the look in his eye, she tried to keep a tough expression although she knew her pussy was about to be torn apart.

"You better not drop me down on this floor, nigga." She sassed, trying to mask her fear and excitement.

Abel's brow remained furrowed, he didn't give a fuck about her smart-ass comments because he knew she would soon be rendered speechless.

He began to pound into her core roughly, giving her short and fast strokes that caused her pussy to throb in pleasured pain.

"Oh fuck!" She screamed, no longer caring if anyone heard her.

He kissed the side of her face, lifting her and making her bounce on his dick. "Take this shit, take this dick baby." He grunted.

"Fuck, baby! That hurts so fucking good!" She moans and digs her nails into the back of his neck, gripping him tightly.

He became even more aggressive and began fucking her like he hated her, showing no mercy on her sore pussy.

Abel's pace increased and sweat beads formed on his forehead, he shut his eyes tightly and moaned when she began to tighten up on him. He made her bounce harder although he could feel her attempting to push him out.

"Fuck, wait, Abel..." she whimpers, trembling a bit in his arms.

"Nah, I'm not stopping until you cum on this dick so you better take this shit, ma." He grunts against her neck.

"I can't take it!" She whimpered. "Fuck, please slow down, Daddy!" Abel smiled and shook his head no.

"The next time that you decide to be petty and keep this pussy away from me for three weeks, I'm going to destroy your fucking walls... do you hear me?" He breathes.

Nicki started to cry softly against his shoulder, it felt so good that she couldn't hold back the tears and she knew he would never let her hear the end of it when it was said and done.

"Stop holding it, you are not about to make me cum first so just cum for me," Abel whispers into her ear which made her whine in frustration.

It was a competition between the two, they kept a record of who made who cum first and Nicki had yet to succeed in making Abel cum before her.

Not being able to take any more punishment, Nicki starts to release all over Abel's dick while screaming into the nape of his neck.

"Good girl." He praises her, slowing down his strokes to help her through her orgasm.

The slow strokes make her cum again which causes him to chuckle, she is so mad and embarrassed that all she can do is nuzzle against his shoulder like a big baby and moan.

Her body trembled once again when he finally filled her up with his warm cum, moaning and grunting in her ear as he releases.

They both remained there silent and panting for just a few minutes to gather themselves.

Nicki's pussy felt numb when he finally put her down on the floor and pulled out.

They wordlessly redressed and Nicki quickly exited out of the closet once the coast was clear.

Glancing over her shoulder, she notices Abel leaning against the wall, texting.

He glances up at her from under his lashes and just smirks.

"When I get to your crib tonight you better be naked and waiting for me, I'm not done with you." He says.

Nicki smiles slightly, displaying one of her dimples before rolling her eyes.

"I'll think about it." She yanks down her dress before walking away with a satisfied smile on her face.

#the weeknd #nickiminaj #fanfic #fan fiction #writers on tumblr #writing #orginal work #urban fiction #celebrity #black authors #romance

15 notes · View notes