The Snapdragon

Hanging By A Threat

This first oneshot is a repost of my day 17 for Whumptober 2022. I'm adding it here so the series is easier to access and all in one place.

Trigger warnings: Kidnapping

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Third Person's P.O.V.

Scott woke with a start. Panic coursing through his icy veins as he darted his head around almost frantically. The typical grace and composure the elf carried himself with nowhere to be found. The distinct sound of chains rattling against each other made the elven king pause. His blue eyes widened as he realized what that meant.

"Oh good," a familiar voice drawled, not even attempting to hide the amusement in their voice, "I was starting to think I'd have to wake you up myself."

"Xornoth," Scott said lowly, raising his head slightly to glare at his elder sibling.

"Now, now," Xornoth chided, "that's no way to greet your favourite sibling."

"You're my only sibling."

"Precisely," Xornoth said, their tone matching that of a patronizing parent. Or in this case, a pompous, over confident older twin brother who'd gotten lucky. Scott wanted to roll his eyes so hard that they'd fall out of his skull but decided against it. He was already at his demon brother's mercy given that he was chained by his wrists to the ceiling. The tips of his toes barely touching the floor. The position was going to get painful if Scott didn't get out of there fast.

"Don't even try it," Xornoth said, seemingly knowing Scott's next line of thought before he even thought it, "I've already engraved the chains with runes that will keep your magic at bay."

The demon smirked at their younger twin's brief expression of shock. They resisted the urge to laugh as Scott craned his neck to inspect some of the runes. The cyan haired elf muttered a curse in his native tongue under his breath upon seeing the closest few. Xornoth's grin grew slightly wider.

"What?" the demon drawled again, "Surprised I actually paid attention during our private lessons?

"Just get on with it already!" Scott shouted, jostling his chains with the force he used to spread his wings in fury. However, they never extended intimidatingly behind him. Instead, Scott cried out in pain as something harshly dug into his wings. The icy feathered appendages seizing up due to the affliction as well as the object wrapping around them tighter. Scott hung his head as he took laboured breaths. Xornoth didn't hold back their laugh this time.

"Thought I'd forget about your pesky wings, did you?" they asked with a devilish grin, "Nothing a bit of my corrupted tentacles couldn't fix."

Scott sent another glare his brother's way. This one not as intense as the first because they shone with unshed tears. The elf tried his best to ignore the delighted twinkle in Xornoth's purple eyes that only seemed to get brighter with each interaction. It made Scott feel sick.

"As much as I'd like to keep tormenting you," Xornoth began, "I have an empire to return to."

"No you don't," Scott managed to say through gritted teeth.

"Yes I do."

Scott's head shot up at that statement. Hoping that his ears had deceived him. Praying to Aeor that what he thought wasn't true. A gasp left Scott's lips upon seeing Xornoth. His eyes widening once again no doubt. The elf's blood would've run cold if he could still feel it.

"It's like looking in a mirror isn't it?" Xornoth asked in Scott's voice, smiling as they also wore his face.

"How..." Scott trailed off before everything clicked, "You were practicing within the confines of the crystal, weren't you?"

"I'd think that much was obvious," Xornoth answered, "Did you not feel my power growing each time that pathetic attempt at imprisoning me dangled around your neck?"

Scott turned his head away slightly and Xornoth cackled again. The laugh echoing off the walls and making the elven king cringe. Who knew his voice could sound so disturbing?

"As I was saying," Xornoth continued, "I have an empire to return to. The council is bound to have noticed your absence by now but I can deal with them easy enough. Same goes for that codboy you're fond of. It's a shame really what I'll have to do if he catches on."

"You stay away from Jimmy or else-"

"Or else what?" Xornoth interrupted in their true voice, causing Scott to still, "It seems you've already forgotten the situation you're in. I am the one in control here! You can do nothing but hang there unless I let you out. Which I don't intend to do."

"You won't get away with this," Scott stated.

"It's very likely that I will," Xornoth replied with a sinister smile. Holding eye contact with Scott just uncomfortably long enough to get him to squirm. The demon then straightened up and turned to leave before stopping in their tracks. A smile returning to their face once more.

"One more thing," Xornoth said, "I'll be checking in on you ever so often. Can't have the magic keeping you contained diminishing overtime now can we?"

Scott didn't even grace his brother with a verbal response. Instead he glared at the demon wearing his face once more. The glow in his eyes returning just a bit before fizzling out as the runes on his chains shone red. Xornoth snickered.

"Until next time, brother."

With that, Xornoth turned on their heels and made their exit. Leaving Scott by himself in the small cave. The runes engraved in his chains pulsing red every so often. Scott let out a hiss as an ache in his shoulders made itself apparent. That would only get worse the longer he spent in his current position. But... what could he do?

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Things are gonna get worse before it gets better. Prepare for angst but also some fluff towards the end. I'm not completely evil after all lol

Have a good rest of your day/night! (I say as I'm about to post the next part along with this one cuz why not?)