Limit Of Fortune

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Luna rubbed a hand against her head, wincing at the dull ache. There would surely be a bump there later. She stumbled to her bare feet, which were slightly cut up from her journey. Rusted chains, most likely (and fortunately) easily breakable, hung loosely from her wrists and and she gazed about hazily.

She could recognize this place any day. And as she squinted and struggled to settle her vision, she could make out a large and white shape across the room.

"Glacies?" Luna called, using one chained hand to shield her eyes. The shape stiffened, heaving itself to it's paws. And when the wings unfolded and hoisted atop her shoulders, she knew it was indeed the ice queen, Glacies.

"Who is it? Leave me alone", she huffed, piercing blue eyes narrowed at Luna from across the dungeon.

"No, Glacies, it's me. Luna." the mermaid called, a relieved sigh emitting from her lips. Thank goodness she was ok.

Glacies paused, facial features softening to blink slowly. "Luna?", her voice stiffened with her next words, "Did they harm you?"

"I'll be fine.", she replied, rolling her shoulders with a sigh, "Julian and Ilios are bringing help."

"Yes, I know. A dragon and a fairy."
"How did yo-"
"Glacies knows all."

Luna decided to accept this answer, as mystical as it was. Now was not the time to question, "They are gonna get us out of here."

Glacies' reply was cut short by the thud of someone shifting the locks on the large door. The two stiffened- this could either be their saviors, or the man who brought them there in the first place.

"Ah, hello my friends.", came the dry voice. That was definitely not their rescuers.

"Luna. You've grown." King Poten commented, giving a wry smile as he took a seat with crossed legs. His eyes glanced back to the ice-bear that was imprisoned behind him.

"Glacies, I've seen you've met my acquaintance."
"Poten, Luna is your daughter, you can deny it all you want but you can't deny the truth." she snapped. It appeared the queen was playing him, she certainly knew what would grind his gears.

"No. Luna is not my daughter. Something like that can't come from something like me." he retorted, all playfulness leaving his tone. He twisted his wiry mustache between his fingers with a huff.

At this point, nothing he could say could hurt Luna anymore. He was as good as dead in her eyes, "Ha. Mom would be so disappointed in you."

With that a growl rippled through his throat and he slammed his staff on the floor beside her, "Silence!"

She smirked, deciding to bite her tongue for now. Help would be arriving soon anyway, it would be better to keep him calm.

King Poten took in a shaking breath, shoulders shifting in a shrug. "Hmm. I've got my two worst enemies in the same room, with no ideas what to do with them.", he sighed in a mock crying voice.

"You could let us go.", Glacies remarked shortly.
"No. Can't do that, silly. I'd rather, ya know, kill you and harvest your power." he replied in a sweet tone. The glint in the silvers of his eyes shone as you said this.

"In fact, why don't be bring the guards in here. I'd do it myself, but I would hate to dirty this beautiful robe." he straightened the robe against his shoulders, and Luna studied it. Her hands curled and locked into tight fists upon realizing it was her mother's. He shouldn't deserve to wear something so special, so sacred. It looked hideous on him anyway.

"Don't you dare let them harm her." Luna growled, eyes burning as he glared at his back.

The king snickered, "Oh, shut up, fish. What are you gonna' do anyway? Considering you won't be able to move very far." She watched as he dipped his fingers into the crystal glass he held in his curled hand. When he retracted his hand and flicked the water at her, she took a bit too long to realize what he was doing.

Instantly, as the first tiny droplet touched upon the skin on her forearm, she started to transform. Slick and leathery to the touch, the pink and black spread and sealed her skin. She sighed in annoyance as her feet shifted away into clipped fins and shuddered as the rest of her scales formed across her legs and upper waist. Slowly, a silvery moon pattern twisted and reached across her scales as the transformation came to a stop.

She was about to insult him when the three's arguments were cut off by a huge slam from upstairs, followed by hurried feet rushing their way in.

Of course Luna and Glacies knew what was going on, but unfortunately for the King, he hadn't had a clue. Glacies was already prepared, and was able to summon a Nix, one of her snow minions, to aid the group in finding them.

Julian, Ilios, Flamula, and Bellus watched as an icy wisp blasted trough the window, knowing exactly who had summoned it and what it was forming. The kingdom wasn't a small place, and finding the secret dungeon wouldn't be easy. Snow whirled around them, meeting at a point in the middle and building up until a small...snow penguin... was formed. This was a Nix, and a helpful one at that.

It squeaked, flapping one snowy wing, waddling urgently away to lead the team to the dungeon. The Nix paused near a large wooden door, blinking at them, before crumbling back into a pile of snow. This must be the staircase.

❅ Morgan ❅