Breakfast was beyond tense. Mother had even poured herself a glass of wine, something she had never done before. Cyra had decided she would tune down her outfits for the day even. Mother had yet to give out her punishment, which made Cyra even more anxiety ridden. Neither of us had wanted to come down for breakfast, but Bastian would join soon enough. The only time I truly saw happiness within my mother was when my father visited. He brought out a light in her that no Caligo Queen had business possessing. In my younger years I wanted them to wed, for father to come live with us permanently. Now I knew that the cost of having me was already too great. The other clans would see the marriage as an insult and most likely rebel. It was fitting for a Queen to wed and name her husband prince, what wasn't fitting was having a dragon from another clan entirely be called such a thing. Balance was key in our very fragile world.Looking up from her wine, mother noted Cyra's lack of appet

The boat docked a few kilometres from the northern entrance of Stygian. This left just enough time for my brain to tell me to throw myself off of the horse. A nice sharp rock should hopefully be available in the next few seconds. Not that apologizing to the humans was that bad. I even thought it a fair solution after I had caused them such a headache. But now I simply seemed a spoiled brat who wanted to rebel against my father. Cause mischief in the city so that he may finally pay me attention. That was further from the truth. A shop keeper just didn't want to sell Cyra and I clothes because we looked like whores and thought she could get a kick out of it.  There was nothing I could do to appease a tyrannical dress shop owner except maybe work in her boutique for free for the rest of my life as to 'pay off my debts'.Father had also grown extremely quiet, only muttering to me that we would enter Stygian within the next few minutes. As if I couldn't see the looming gates.

Present A canopy of green blocked out the sun, giving me a small reprieve from the blistering heat. Guards flanked my sides, sneering my way every so often. I was clothed. Fed. But grief drained my body and soul. Damos was close, his eyes scanning me from head to toe every chance he got. He had wrapped a locket in my clothes. I still couldn't decide if it was a sign of mercy or cruelty. A drawing of Elliana's was kept safely inside, unlike her. Mother would find her body soon enough. Grief laced through my body once more and I collapsed to the ground. Agony more fierce than the Crowning shoved its way up my throat. I paused a second, eyes blurring from tears. A guard shoved me forward but instead the food from earlier this morning came rushing up. I am loving my life.