Wings of Fire - Court of Lies

11 - "Like a mother to me"

Peril sat in the queen's chamber as she waited patiently to hear what Scarlet said she needed to know.
She had been playing with the Dragonets of Destiny untill the evening came since there was no fight in program for that day, she was happy to have friends, especially someone that she could touch without burning him, but the sudden silence of the queen was starting to cancel that joy and put a bad feeling in it's place.

<< Peril, do you remember what I said to you about your mother? >>

The question left the dragoness confused.

<< I do, you told me that she tried to kill me and you saved me by killing her first. >>
<< Yes, she saw you as a monster since you burned your brother while you were in the egg, but I didn't tell you the true story. >>
<< What? >>

Peril tilted her head and stared at Scarlet with surprise as a spark of betrayal flashed in her eyes, that was a really important story for her, the one about her past and her family, why would Scarlet, the dragoness that took care of her like a daughter, hide something about it?

<< Please, believe me when I say that I've done it for your own good... >>

Started the queen and showed her a golden bracelet around her left wrist.

<< ... Chameleon gave me this to protect me from your Firescales, if you'll need an hug or the urge to hit me, I won't stop you, but I ask you to let me finish first. >>

Peril's lower jaw was open and her eyes were wide at the thought of the queen getting an enchanted bracelet to offer her physical comfort and being ready to let her express her possible frustration.
Scarlet took her silence as the permission to start talking.

<< I recently found out that Kestrel's not dead, she joined the Talons of Peace... >>

Silence followed her words.

<< ... I never knew she was still alive until Chameleon took me to their base and helped me capture them. I honestly wanted to keep you in the dark, I didn't want you to face the disgusting monster that once dared to call herself a mother, I was afraid to hurt you, letting you face her. >>
<< But why... why would you tell me this now? >>
<< Because you're a clever dragoness, Peril, you would have been able to find this out sooner or later. >>

Explained the queen as she exhaled a breath in such an exaggerate and theatrical way that almost give away the annoyance hidden in that sweet tone.
Peril was still stilent and... well, still, a statue that could only breath and see the world around her, then she slowly lowered her blue eyes on the ground, like she was ashamed or really hurt by the queen's words.

<< I... I understand why you did this, I understand that you wanted to protect me but... >>
<< But... ? >>
<< I need to see her, to talk to her, I need to face her. >>

Said the dragoness jumping on all her four paws, like she was going to face another opponent in the arena, the mask of decision and fierceness she held in her eyes was doing a really bad job at hiding the fear that was slowly getting to her heart. The fear and insecurity at the thought of the future, at the thought of facing the mother that put her on that earth and tried to kill her right after, like she knew she wasn't strong enough to face that kind of challenge. It wasn't like fighting in the arena, she wasn't a brave champion that other dragons couldn't even touch with one talon, dragons that were destined to die under her claws, she was just a sick dragonet about to hear words probably full of hate and from the same dragoness that should have loved her more than her own life.

<< Then you'll face her... >>

Said Scarlet as she got closer to Peril but yet at a respectful distance, like she was worried to violate her personal space.

<< ... and I'll be with you. >>

As she said those words, Peril was clinging to her neck, hugging it so tightly that she almost cut her breath.

<< Thank you, Queen Scarlet, you've been like a mother to me, more than Kestrel. >>

The queen wasn't going to admit it, but even if she trusted Chameleon and he assured her that the enchanted bracelet was perfectly functional, she jumped a bit at that contact.
She assisted at many, many fights in the arena, she had seen so many dragons die to the same dragoness that was hugging her, she had seen them burn like they were nothing more than dead leaves thrown in the flames, the same dragoness which scales could burn almost everything and that were being stopped by that simple piece of jewelry, a single hit, a little accident, a moment was everything needed to take it away and then she'd be dead. Even if she knew she was safe, a cold chill ran down her spine at the sudden hug and she needed a few moments before she could copy the gesture, relaxing her body and finally accepting that she wasn't going to burn into a slow and painful death.

<< Don't worry, Peril... >>

Scarlet lowered her head until  the chin was touching Peril's shoulder, keeping her closer to her heart like her mother did to her when she was little and had some really terrifying nightmare.

<< ... that monster will never hurt my little champion. >>

She whispered in that sweet tone she rarely used as her bright eyes went to the mirror, staring at her own reflection and admiring how beautiful they were.
Her fangs.
Those dangerous teeth shining in the grinning reflection as the victorious light in her grin and her eyes grew again and again with every second that Peril wasn't letting her go, every second that she was falling for that honey-filled motherly voice and that deceptive hug.
Her little champion wasn't going to forgive her mother.
That little monster she saved to control wasn't going to turn on her.
She held her in her claws.