PAINT THE ROSES RED - A Psychosexual Dinosaur Horror Story

PAINT THE ROSES RED - Prologue

Ao loved hatching day parties—but not for the reason one would logically expect.

He didn't particularly like the fact that another monarch ruling over his life was being born, nor that said monarch would be a large theropod hybrid that could eagerly devour him at any second and be unimpeached. The only thing Ao liked about these parties was that they were always grand: lit with both beautiful lights and precious gemstones around the ballroom; the fanciest dinosaurs coming to honor the Queen's offspring; pretty damsels and sires he could be coy and flirtatious with; and best of all, the feast that would come after the dance. Only the highest-ranked nobles and the richest would be at this feast, and the food would be legendary. Whole smoked chicken and quail, filet mignon, roasted Apatosaurus cutlets, whole Parasaurolophus eggs, and even sushi, sashimi, nigiri, lobster, whole smoked salmon, and grilled trout would be on the menu for piscivores. It would be the most delicious taste the partygoers would have unless they harvested prey themselves.

As Ao strolled through the marble halls towards the courtyard, he could only sigh at the thought. A new life beginning was a very significant event; it would be a grand party once held, and a happy event for the Queendom. How could he be so disappointed? Even though he was a raptor, he was a high-ranking one, the Queen's majordomo and the one third in power only outclassed by Queen Diamante and her future children. And even his birthright was prestigious; he was born into the species of a Utahraptor, the biggest and most respected of all Dromaeosaurs. Even then, however, the large theropods still outclassed him, and he was discriminated against for it his entire life. Raptors were tiny, scheming pests to the dominant carnivores. As he looked at the mural in the hallway to the courtyard, a pure white Indominus Maximus queen glowering down at him, he bore a certain feeling deep down inside. Was it rage? Was it aggravated compliance? Profound sadness, even? Ao didn't know himself. He wasn't too deep in thought before an anguished and furious roar sounded from the depths of the castle, near the hatchery.

Ao turned his head away from the mural so fast that his spectacles fell off, and he picked them up, practically throwing them back on before darting towards the hatchery. He ran as fast as his claws could take him, sickle-claws clacking on the ground as he ran frantically. Ao bolted into the doorway and stood there, breathing heavily when he arrived, seeing Diamante hunched over and staring incredulously at a newly hatched egg in anger and disbelief; she was breathing and growling as heavily as he was. He hadn't a ghost of curiosity about why it seemed like she hated what she saw so much, before he realized her child was a dark grey that was almost black, with red flecks and accents within her feathers.

Those are the colors of an Indominus Minora- a species built of genetic mistakes. Ones known for being vicious, voracious, agile predators. Evil, a bad omen. Ao thought, feeling fear of the legends told before seeping through his feathers and into his skin like sludge.

"My baby.. She's rotten. HOW HAVE I BEEN CURSED SO?" Queen Diamante roared in anguish. The child looked fearful and confused, making soft cooing noises and small bellows as she took in the world around her. Ao saw that she looked mostly Minora, but had a similar body type to other Indominus hatchlings he had seen, except with a thin gaint that made her disproportioned. Her body seemed alien, too frightening for a creature of her size–a small hatchling that really could do no wrong.

"Your ancestors may be trying to tell you something. Maybe mating with Diablo was a mista-" Ao started, before Diamante turned around and snarled at him. "Do NOT blame this on me, you weasel. That- Do not speak that monster's name in my presence, do you hear me? DO NOT. I loved him and he cursed me. He infected me with this-this- spawn." Every word came out with extreme venom; every breath hushed and quick, but with a dangerous growl hidden underneath. Ao nodded slowly. "As you wish, your majesty."