The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Eighty

The tear faded completely, the view of the god eating young woman obscuring and completely dying.

"You asked what happened to me? I told you I remember every life I've had so far. What I did not tell you..." she smiled as she held a hand above her head, waving a hand straight through the antlers on her head. A moment later it all faded and the same woman stood before them, two black holes in her sockets. "Was that I am not a fragment. I am Marcenia. I killed several gods. Devouring them one after another, until I had enough power to take on the idiot mongrel death put on me. You would be surprised to hear that that beast was a god too."

"How did you escape? Death's realm can only be entered or left at his command."

"Ah, at his command?" She suddenly morphed again, appearing exactly like the Anubis she made a contract with. "I would argue that death has free reign without needing command. Don't worry, I left some soul fragments to act the part of prisoner and executioner." she shook her head and the illusion applied to her previously returned. "I would say it's time for me to kill you for your part in this orchestra, hm?"

She moved quickly, and a crack sounded from her fist colliding with Gaelik's face. He staggered back, surprised at the hit.

"Marcenia, you'd best stop before I kill you." he ground out. 

He could not fathom it. How could she not understand that he did it all for her. He took her to raise her into a ruthless and cunning goddess. He only did all he had done to show her how much more she could be. How dare she repay him in this way when he finally found the last piece of her to take back and make his bride?

Had he not suffered enough having to watch her with other men for so long when he, her true husband and should be mate had been waiting patiently for her? HOW DARE SHE?!

She twisted, quickly turning and landing her heel to his temple. He fell this time, shocked at the fact that she would hit him again. 

"That's it! I have put up with your philandering for too long." he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her forward. "You will return to your place as my wife!"

"You've lost your mind, bastard." she said as she placed her hand on his arm as well, feeling her power work the moment their skins made contact. 

"What are you doing?" he growled out as he could feel the drain on his body.

"Eating you." 

He shook her off, growling a deep and guttural warning for her to stop.

She took a step forward, her eyes glowing molten gold. It was much like watching a tamer and their beast as they took equal steps. 

"Step back." he growled. "Gem, subdue her!"

"Subdue her?" The fox gave an equally alarming smile. "Now why would I do that? You have not entertained me in a long time."

"You mangy fox!" he growled again before seeming to make up his mind. "If you will not stop, then you leave me no choice, darling wife."

The shift was sudden, causing further damage to the arena and shocking those around once again. Where the man had been was a beast the size of a house at the very least, covered in scales black as midnight and wings so large they would cut clear through treetops. 

"Kent! Get away!" 

"Millicent!"

"Princess!"

The shouts were loud. They knew this type of beast and had thought it had been erased from existence a millennia ago. This was said to be so fearsome that at the time the different races had no choice but to band together to finally kill the last beast. The last dragon.

"Tut-tut," Gem smirked as he looked to the crowd. "Never interfere when dragons have a feud."

The demon Queen, still trying to understand it all the same way that the crowd was trying to understand it, stepped closer to Gem. 

"Without disrespect, would you care to explain? I have tried to follow the dialogue as much as I could, but I still have some questions. First, isn't my Millicent just adorable?" she gushed as she stared at the woman who looked nothing like the Millicent they had known all this time.

Gem raised a brow, questioning the sanity of those that surround Marcenia. (much like the author is doing right now)

"She... is?" he almost questioned. 

"Now, please explain..."

And with this, the queen took all enjoyment Gem had hoped to gain from watching Marcenia tearing into Gaelik as she badgered him with one question after another.

Macey stood there and watched the beast that approached her, teeth bared as guttural sounds came from it's throat as it breathed. It leaped suddenly, it's jaws closing around her when Goro appeared in front of her, as if to protect her. 

She grabbed him by the shirt and ripped him away from the immediate threat and Goro was left with the view of large teeth. A hand still holding him by the shirt as it kept him in place, even though the rest of her could no longer be seen. Blood coloured the teeth slowly, mixing with saliva as time seemed to stand still for a moment. Screams suddenly roared into the air as realization set in with everyone around. Several of the princes as well as her two betrothed appeared and were readying themselves to attach when Goro let out a sound as nails suddenly dug into his skin. 

On the arm sticking out multicoloured scales started appearing. In some areas the scales looked golden instead. Goro was let go of and was caught by the others as he fell. The hand suddenly started thickening, growing as if it was morphing into something larger. The teeth could no longer contain what was locked inside the jaws and the first thing that appeared were two extremely large wings of the same colour as the scales on her arm. 

"You might wish to step back." they heard her say. "I can only slow the change so much."

They quickly did as she asked, watching as her form suddenly exploded in size. She was smaller than the black dragon, but much, much more majestic. 

A set of four wings spread out from her back that accorded her a speed the black dragon did not have and the moment he set off she was on top of him.

Her own fangs sank into his right wing the moment she reached him and a crunching sound so loud it sounded like metal breaking sounded out followed by tearing as she ripped his wing off without a second thought. The large wing fell through the air like a scrap of parchment. In the brief moment they watched it flutter she was already tearing into the other wing, successfully leaving the black dragon dependent on her wings and claws entirely. 

Blood sprayed in a sheet of rain over the entire area, the air thick with an iron scent as she flew him up into the air. The sound of growling thundered even when they were no longer within their sight. The sky grew dark, thunder rumbling around them as lightning struck and around them. The fox seemed to be holding his hand up to keep a dome in place around everyone, an irritated expression on his face as he glared at the queen who was still badgering him with questions.