Night Fury's Wrath

Chapter 74: What Lies Within [Part 1]

-Apologies for the very late update. A lot of stuff has been happening lately, which distracted me from this story. Please let me know if I missed any grammar errors, and I'll try to work something out schedule-wise before the next update so I'm not late all over again. Until then, enjoy!

-NFD

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~Stop this!~

I giggled as I watched the weak prisoner choke on their own blood, writhing on the floor of their cage. It was a lot more fun to watch them struggle helplessly before they died. What kind of dragon it was didn't matter; all that mattered was that it died, just as my master wanted.

~This is not you! Remember your father; would he want this for you?~

"My father?" I echoed with a toothy grin while the dying dragon gurgled on its own blood. "He told me to do it. Of course he'd want this for me. Besides, it's fun!"

~That monster isn't your father! Your mind is tainted! What you're doing is horrible. Just think, and you'll know that something is wrong!~

"Nothing's wrong," I hummed happily, kicking the now very-much-dead dragon. "I'm just playing. Who cares if I break them? There's lots more of them just waiting their turn!"

"She's insane..."

"Will I end up like her..?"

"Monster..."

I whirled around and stepped out of the bloody cage, sweeping my narrowed eyes over the prisoners nearby. "Keep talking, and you'll be next!"

Dead silence.

I grinned toothily. "No worries! I'll get to all of you eventually!" I couldn't wait until my master decided I was ready to enter the outer world. Supposedly, there was a lot more space and weak dragons to thrash. That sounded like paradise. For now, though, I only had these prisoners, and I was only permitted to kill them when my master said so. That wasn't as fun, but it was better than nothing.

Every trapped dragon I passed shrank back in fear, save for the select few that watched me sadly or looked angry. That's weird. Eh, who cares? They'll all die eventually, and hopefully by my claws over my master's... but I'm his favorite, so I'm sure he'll let me. Oh, I should ask—

~Favorite? Heh. Do ya know what your 'wonderful master' does with his favorite tools? He throws them away without a second thought.~

I frowned and turned back the way I came, headed for my master's cavern. Shut up. You're just an annoying voice in my head. You don't know anything.

~Really? Then I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see my proof... Cuz, ya know, I'm only your imagination. What're a few wasted minutes when your 'master' hasn't given ya anyone else to kill?~

I slowed to a stop, getting an unexpected, overpowering urge to satisfy my curiosity. What if the voice was real? What if...? No, my master wouldn't do that. Fine, I'll see what it is just to prove you're not real.

~If you say so! Turn around and walk straight until you hit a dead end, then step into the wall you see. It's not far.~

'Step into a wall?' What was that supposed to accomplish? My master told me about every cavern here. There's nothing over there.

~But you're dying to check anyway, aren't ya?~

Knowing the voice was right, I begrudgingly turned around and walked at a brisk pace. If you make me run into a wall, I'll end you.