Black Queen

Three

Rye slept soundly, curled into the matted fur of Cruor. His small body shook and shuddered from the numerous dark mares that haunted his dreams. In the darkness of the room, Cruor stirred, the grand spines upon his back rippled in alert of an oncoming intruder. His intuition kicked in, leading his eyes to trail across the stone floor to the opposite corner, just out of reach of the torch's warm light. In that shadowy corner, the rustling of dust could be detected by a small cloud rising and making its way into the edge of the light's reaches. Two beady eyes, red like rubies peered out from the darkness. A sound like hissing could be heard in the silence of the room, the accursed noise reverberating from all of the surrounding walls. Cruor growled a low, guttural noise in warning, the pair of red eyes refusing to back away, but slowing in approach. From the shadows emerged a black slithering creature like a large worm. It coiled near the feet of Rye and met eyes wth Cruor, who was attempting to smash the thing with his immense tail.
"My name is Ari Iaculai. I have been sent by the ever wise and glorious Black Queen Caligo to guard the chosen child of the prophecies. Caligo as of now is unable to move or use her powers, thus she sent me, her loyal serpent, to guide her sweet child in his royal task. I see that the blood-beast has been found. I applaud you, good Verus Altari Cruor in finding and protecting this boy, but I must ask you to allow me to guide you both in changing the fate of the world, and changing your destinies." Ari wrapped herself around Rye's ankle, coiling in the crook of his knee and sheltering herself in the warmth. Before laying her head down, Ari took one last look into Cruor's deep eyes and she stuck out her tongue, chuckling at the blood-beast's expression. "I think I like you, as strange as you may be." She said quietly as she settled down.

Cruor once more huffed in self-question before glaring at the snake and closing his eyes again to sleep.