Some Fall By Virtue

Chapter Twenty-Seven: can't steal my thunder

"If I do not speak of your true nature then," Elrohir said, jaw wobbling, an expression of pure terror written upon his face as she stroked soothingly at his cheek, black talon tracing the skin beneath his eye. Perhaps it would have been more soothing and comforting if she wasn't a dragon and she didn't have her talons out. Not that she would ever harm such a lovely good being like the grandchild of the one who had done such a good job with removing her once from existence in that world. Not that Elrohir knew that much, and if she had her way, he would never. "You will not harm me and my family?"

"Oh, I will throw away the thought of attacking your entire realm if you comply," she remarked, smiling down at the elf in her grasp then, ears straining to pick out any sounds of anyone coming closer to them then. There weren't any, and Sakura could only hum and stare down at the elf in her grasp, wondering what on Arda had been going through his head when he came out alone to challenge her – to threaten her. At first she had thought it might be some grand ploy. But the baby elf in front of her wouldn't be able to do such a thing. Not on his lonesome, and on his lonesome he was. "Is this what you sought me out alone – to gain some sort of promise?" She grasped at his jaw, stroking at his chin then. She wished she could be half as pretty as the elf before her, inside and out, and the jealousy burned so very ugly in her chest.

Elrohir turned his gaze away then, ears reddening even as he remained trapped beneath her, pale and frozen in terror.

"My," she murmured, congratulating herself on keeping up her evil dragon façade. Is it really a mask though? the voice asked. Sakura ground her teeth together for a split second before she refocused her attentions on the elf she had trapped there. "Did you really think you could take on a dragon of my calibre all alone?" she asked, laying the mocking tone on thick, knowing as that red tint crept into those bone white cheeks that she was correct. "Did you think me the same as that pathetic failure of a dragon who dared to attack that which is mine?" she questioned, chuckling then. What a lovely sound... the voice whispered. You really are an evil dragon, aren't you? Can't deny your true nature at heart, can you? "You are quite lucky I'm so very reasonable... otherwise you would be so very dead, prideful, reckless, little elf," she said, lifting herself from where she sat atop him.

She didn't really want to snuggle up to another elf beside her soulmate for longer than absolutely necessary. Her heart ached at the thought of her golden elf waiting for her back at their camp. It was oddly amusing and heart-breaking how much had changed between leaving and returning to that campsite. How she wished she could stay by his side forever... but heroes were made to slay monsters. They could never coexist.

"Do not forget your promise," she said then, letting her eyes shift back to their human state then, fingernails replacing those sharp black talons. She looked perfectly normal once more, perfectly harmless. Deceiver, the voice reminded her, and yes, she was that too. Tears bit at her eyes but she didn't let them fall or show. It would have ruined everything she was trying to exude. The cold confidence and malice which could only belong to a dragon or another creature of the Enemy.

Sakura turned on her heel then, a low, humourless burst of laughter escaping her as more of a grunt as she made her way back towards the camp then. Everything felt different though, as she returned, a gaping maw in her chest having opened up where her stomach should have been. She felt as though she were on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall, the toe curling rush of adrenaline pulsing through her veins as she waited to stumble over the edge and fall. Her heart beat furiously in her chest, hearing the sounds of Elrohir stumbling to his feet shakily behind her. Silly, prideful, little elf. Sakura snorted, dark amusement clawing at her then even as she trekked to her soulmate's side and settled down beside him once more, tucking herself into his side, pain and guilt gnawing at her as he smiled brightly and settled an arm around her then. Deceiver, the voice repeated once more, always wanting to remind her of what she was doing. And how terrible she was to be tricking her soulmate as so.