Dire Kingdom 2

Chapter 3 "Truth"

Sirocco's POV

I help Meadow from the ground and lead her down the hallway. She's rubbing the underside of her muzzle, I must have clawed her a little too hard. It was meant to strike a little fear into her and to toy with her, to make her think that'd I was about to hurt her. I didn't realize I'd actually hurt her though. 

As we reach the end of the hallway, I unlock the door to the crown room and usher her in. "I'll let you be in here alone" I say as I back out. Meadow nods slightly before I close the door.

Meadow POV

I haven't been in this room for a few weeks. The vines seem to have grown longer and larger. How strange. As I assume Sirocco wants me to put the crown on, I gently lift it from it's stand and examine it. I've never gotten a very good look at it. It's emerald jewels and red rubies seem to stick out the most to me. Gently, I place the crown on my head and wonder why Sirocco loves it so much. Why she tells me that it 'speaks to her'. Suddenly, I realize why she says that. The crown begins to whisper things into my ears. How, how can it be doing that?, what sick type of magic is this?. "Well, well, well. We meet at last" the crown whispers. Shocked, I jump back, I didn't expect it to speak in such a... wolf sounding voice. Well, I didn't expect it to speak at all.

"You're scared. What's wrong, you've never heard a crown talk?" It taunted. I shake my head as the crown continues to ramble. "You're just like Sirocco. She was afraid the first time she heard me. But have no fear, I'm no where near as frightening as Sirocco, she does the dirty work" the crown whispered. 'The fact that this object is talking is scary enough' I think. "I can read your thoughts. Trust me, Sirocco thought the same thing as you did at the start" it added. Quickly, I lifted it off my head and put it back in the stand. I drew a few quick breaths before placing it back on my head. "You're scared. You're terrified of me. As you should be. After all, I did ordered to have you killed a week or so ago. Sirocco defied me, how do you think I-we, should punish her" it whispered. Punish her, why would we ever punish Sirocco? Sure she may have defied the crown. But, that doesn't really matter. "I don't think we should at all" I whisper back. "Oh how noble of you, saving your little 'master' from a fate that already awaits her" the crown taunted. How dare it call Sirocco my master. No, I'm not a pet. Only pets have masters. "I don't think it's necessary" I reply. A ghastly chuckle rings in my ears. "And why not, why shouldn't  I kill you right this instant?" The crown asked me. How could the crown kill me, this thing seriously overestimated it's power. Maybe this thing does have a bit of power, so I need to think of an excuse quickly. "Because I'm worth keeping around." I quickly reply. "Oh, is that so?" It says with a chuckle. I have no clue how far I'm willing to go to spare Sirocco's life. "I'll obey any task that she doesn't do" I blatantly reply. "Oh really?" The crown replies. Suddenly, I feel a snake like thing crawling up my leg and through my wool. I look down to see it's a vine. Out of curiosity, I don't try to fight it, I want to know what it'll do. A minutes or so goes by before I notice it again. This time I feel it at my throat, a small thorn is growing out. Until it suddenly stops. "What the fuck are you doing?" I ask. "It's simple really, I'll kill you if you don't give in to my every command. First off; I need you to get familiar with killing. Secondly; I need you to present to me proof that you've indeed killed someone" it demands. I pull at the vines until I feel the thorn press into the flesh around my throat. I gag as it tears my flesh. "You are to do it, or else your little 'friend' Sirocco is going to be punished for your mishaps" the crown commands before the vines and thorn disintegrate into thin air. I pull the crown off my head as quickly as I can. "It's real, the rumours are true." I admit with a wide eyed look.

I slowly open the door to see Sirocco leaning against the wall. "How was it?" She asks

New chapter tomorrow