Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

82.) Water Wait

They were enjoying their time being served in the mostly outside balcony. The view overlooked the mountain side, a place where no one lived. Sprawling expanses of rocky mountains some high peaks distantly had signs of snow but i couldnt focus on that. A fruity smell fell over my sences. Not wine or mead.

I looked above. In the part where the mountain met the balcony, lanters were hanging from chains. Smoke drifted from them lazily and something els that was familiar. It smelled similiar to a metalic scent, the one that comes before a nose bleed. It was oddly familiar like a taste I couldnt completly place.

Do they like this smell? It made my sences feel dull. Not unlike what Talon kept buring in his harem.

"Talon! Your finally here i was begining to think you were lost in your own halls." A blue dragon man said. He and Talon began exchanging pleasantries. I could feel the eyes on me as i was assessed.

I remembered the guy Talon was talking to from the dinner party from the last banquet. Yet, i only knew his name from the lessons i had with Dante. A sort of "whos who" an education on who to not insult while talking to elites. The blue guy was Tambora from the territory called Sello Reef and probably the richest head in the council.

Learning about about each head just made me feel more like an outsider. They had all these connections to eachother. Unions between clans, long historys of friendships since they lived for a ridiculously long time, and past grudges against eachother that were settled in hisory archives. The distinction of those lying on the patio or bathing, compared to fresh new me was more vast than the ocean. Did i really expect i could pit these people against eachother to gain a backer? Knowledge truely is power.

"She has improved a great deal from the last gathering." Kanyon said with approval. She floated on top of the water. She kicked languidly as she spoke. She is Kaverns brood mate just like Pyros. A clutch of three eggs from a more plentiful time. She was married off to the head of the Rocky Mountain Ridge clan. It made since why she acted so familiar with a Vee, shes his great aunt.

"I think so to, she is more appealing since I last saw her." Sonoran agreed. He was smaller in height compared to the rest. A desert dweller. He was closer in height to Cerastes and more of a dark sand color. The scales on his legs were more snake like in nature. Whatever hair he had was not visable and wrapped and bound on his head. Only his horns pertruded.

"You would find an Ox palatable if it gave you offspring." Ethirium stated blandly. The comment generated laughter from the party. Sonoran clicked his tongue in distaste.

Ethirium was tall and thin. Red in skin color her hair fell down her back in a straight black river. I had the distinct feeling that she didnt like me.

"If all Ox were as palatable as she, I wouldn't mind bringing in two or three." Tambora quipped.

This got another round of laughs but I didnt even attempt to smile. I hope they die out, I thought.

"She has come leaps from last year, although not as desirable as one of our own she serves her purpose." Kavern said giving a meaningful look to Ethirium. She looked in a different direction slyly.

"And what a purpose it is, two clutches in three years." Tambor said looking into his glass. "Even females. Pyros really out did his self this time. Who would have thought that odd quack would have finally cracked that hard nut."

"Speaking of Pyros... Kanyon interjected..."

"We have humans digging him out of hybernation as we speak. Useless thing decided to take a long nap at the bottom of a cave in the middle of his project camp. I suppose it was to much to expect him to leave his project to come home to sleep." The high lord Kavern shook his head.

"He was always like that. Obsessed with his work but at least we can reap the benefits of his labor." Kanyon stated plainly.

My tail swished with agitation. This is why I had to leave my kids behind. To be leared at by a flock of pompas reptiles. I swallowed hard.

"Turn around and give them a full view." Kavern said whirling around a clawed finger in the air. I didnt hesitate to rotate in a circle, I couldnt push my luck here. I held up my hair with my hands and gave them a full view of my tiny wings that barely covered my back and shoulders. A thin dark scaled tail.

"Shes underdeveloped." Said The high lord Thrasher. He came from the grasslands. Large swaths of plains. He was the biggest dragon man in the pool. He laid his large arms out to both sides of the pools edge.

"We think shes still growing." Kavern told him.

Just then my stomach grumbled and I clutched my belly as if it was a mouth to be silenced. I had been to anxious to eat these past couple days. The thought of attack had made me nausious to the point of being unable to eat properly. Eyes looked at me curiously. I looked somewhere els.

"Maybe shes just underdeveloped because she doesnt eat well here. Surly the high lord of Green mountain can keep one human fed?" Tambora quiped setting down his drink and picking up the nearest tray.

Kavern scowled at him.

"Heeello little wings." Tambora said as if he was trying to tame a cat. " I'll feed you, why dont you come over to me." He said with a smile.

I took a decisive step away.

Talon who was still standing near by pushed me forward with his tail.
"You need to respect the elders." He said as i stumbled forward slightly.

"If the leader of clan offers you a bite you should take it graciously." He scolded me. I tucked my head in away from Talon. Who was he to question my behavior when he was always causing messes.

Taking a few steps forward i reached out to take the fruit Tambora held in his hand.

"Looking down at me while im trying to feed you?" He asked.

"Kneel!" Talon scolded me again. "Did Dante teach you nothing in all those lessons?!"

I ignored him and got on my knees. The rock felt uncomfortable against my knees but not painful as it might have been before my skin changed. I reached out both hands again in a bowl shape for Tambora to deposite the fruit there.

"Say ahhh for me little wings." He ignored my outstreched hands and aimed the circular red fruit towards my mouth. I pursed my lips in annoyance my tail no doubt giving away my emotions behind me. All the same I opened my mouth. Tambora not only put the fruit in my mouth but a thumb and forefinger as well. Running a clawed finger against the inside of my mouth. I jerked away spitting out the fruit to the side. There was several gasps.

"Little imp!" He shouted.

I tried to get up to leave but he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled. He was stronger than I initially anticipated and then I fell into the water.