The King's Remorse

That's the Plan? Seems Rather Short

As if on cue, the snake breaks free, and Pisces is removed from my neck. The 2 fish hover a few feet from the ground in a sea of sparkling glitter, 1/2 the color of midnight and the other the color of midday. I become locked in the back of my mind as the snake takes full control of my mind. Ebony tears fall from my eyes and veins spread like a disease up my neck. Horns rip from my skull. My fingers snap shut into fists. Dust explodes into the air in a shower of seething black and furious purple. Screams sound as the crowd of people flees from the Earth Tree, pushing and shoving to get away as fast as they can.

The ground rumbles. Cracks slice through the soil and chunks of earth are flung into the air.

Phoenix doesn't budge. The lazy smirk that drives the snake crazy remains on his face, head held high and chest puffed out in arrogance. Confidence, I think from where I'm locked away. Arrogance, the snake seems to snarl back. Its eyes flash with fury.

Flames crackle across Phoenix's fur, and he burns anything that comes too close. "Coward," the snake hisses through my vocal cords.

"It's called basking in the glee of knowing that the Amethyst Throne's time on Ragdon is quickly drawing to a close. All this time waiting, biding my time, and I can't believe it's finally here. Enjoy the last bit of your time alive, Amethyst Throne and King." Phoenix spits the names, wrinkling his nose as he sneers.

"Ya done with your little show yet?" The snake shakes with seething anger. The towering branches of the Earth Tree groan as wind howls in a dust storm. Phoenix doesn't budge. Reddish purple locks of fur blow over his forehead. He waits, keeping his head high.

"I'm bored. Time's up." The Phoenix's tail flicks once, twice, before he trots forward, quickly accelerating to lunge at me. At the snake? I batter the barrier keeping me locked away. My fingers claw at it, straining to break free. But I can't. With every attempt I make, the snake fights back tenfold.

Phoenix slams into my body, sending the 2 of us crashing into the ground. Dust and flames rise into the air in violet clouds. A snarl rumbles in Phoenix's chest. He pins my body to the soil, muscles tensed as the snake struggles against his grip. Rocks bite at my cheek. "Yield," the black cat growls, teeth bared and eyes blazing with fire. Why isn't he trying to kill me? He wants to destroy the Amethyst Throne. The snake's part of the Throne. So why isn't he trying to kill me?

"Never." The snake moves to turn and claw at Phoenix's face, but in a lightning-fast move my hands are trapped, 1 beneath a monstrous paw and the other locked between fanged jaws. Pain sparks on my palm and wrist as blood streams down my arm. My shoulder complains as it's twisted at an unnatural angle. My breath catches in my throat, and I exhale slowly to take the edge off the pain. Still, even as I'm unable to move and at the mercy of the black cat, he doesn't move to kill me. Dust storms around us in a furious display of purple and black. The snake fights back with everything it has, but it's no match for Phoenix and his endless, seething fury. "Yield," Phoenix repeats through his grip on my wrist. Blood glints on his fangs.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Pisces swim away through the air.

A hiss escapes through my gritted teeth as Phoenix twists my arm further. My shoulder cries out. "Yield, Dust Devil. Give Luke control again." What the hell is he doing? What's his plan? He clearly only thinks for himself. Why hasn't he just gone up to Bryant's castle yet? The snake only snarls in reply. Its eyes flash in my mine. A wave of dust comes crashing down over the black cat. Phoenix stumbles to the side, which is enough to let me wrench my wrist free and scramble to my feet. I think I can see bone, but the snake keeps my gaze on Phoenix. "Last chance, Dust Devil."

"Never."

"I was expecting that. More fun for me. Yay." A ring of fire spreads from Phoenix's paws, illuminating his dark fur and casting an eerie reflection in his eyes. The snake seems to smirk in my mind. As I pound my fists against the barrier and strain to break free, I feel the 1st slip in the snake's control. Yes!