“You honestly believe that?” Sheal worried. “The mere act of having sex with us is a threat to a man’s life. We’re fire lizards, we burn everything we touch, whether we mean to or not. Do you really think there’s any future for my kind like you promise? Do you honestly believe men would ever love us enough to risk their very manhood in order to mate with us?”
“I do,” Daniel agreed without hesitation. “Physical differences can be set aside. Unique mating methods can be met and honored. The only thing mankind hates and fears about you is how you treat us, how you willingly and decisively burn everything around you. If you instead treat others with respect and compassion it will be returned to you, to all of your race.”
“But why? Why would anyone choose us over any other? Our voices are rough and difficult to tolerate, our bodies are dangerously hot, and we look rather terrifying to most I’m sure. You’re surrounded by beautiful elves, giant butterflies, and so many more races who are safe to mate with. What reason could you or any man possibly have to choose me over them under any circumstance?”
“Well for starters I see no danger in being close to you.”
“My crotch just seared away my panties and scorched the log you’re sitting on, and you claim I pose no danger to you?”
“Yes, I do,” Daniel assured. “That was an accident, one that I will even take blame for as I caused that reaction from you. Salamander women are known to incinerate everything around them for mere pleasure, and even taking into account they have to be careful when mating with a man we hear so few stories of any humans making it out alive from an encounter with a salamander woman. But you’re not like that. I can see that. All of us can. Even Squeak saw it when she first met you. You’re not a dangerous person, Sheal. You may have unique differences that need to be acknowledged in regards to the safety of others, but even with those I see no threat in having you with us. After all, I trust you to be our maid and live with my family. Do you really think I would do so if I didn’t believe you were a good person?”
Sheal fell silent as she tried to protest, nervously glancing down then back to him again as she didn’t have anything to argue with against that.
“I trust you with my man,” Alyssa spoke up. “My family trusts you. Squeak trusted you. Your special flair for heat doesn’t bother us. Even Cindy, a sand wraith, feels comfortable in your presence.”
“I sneezed the other day and sent her running off screaming,” Sheal sadly reminded her.
“She feels comfortable with you, not a large burst of fire blowing up in front of her,” Alyssa reasoned. “It just spooked her, that’s all. She doesn’t hate you or anything.”
“I’m still pissed off she scared my baby like that,” Felucia muttered with a flinching scowl at Sheal.
“When aren’t you in a foul mood about something?” Alyssa flatly quizzed her.
“Sheal,” Daniel said, standing up and slowly approaching the timid salamander. “I currently have a wonderful family of many beautiful mates who I think the world of and who think the world of me, and it should be known that what I’m about say to you right now must only be taken at face value and not as an attempt to court you in any way. I say this because my mates are very possessive and have no further patience for me accidentally wooing any more women under any circumstances.”
“He’s right about that,” Alyssa agreed, nodding with a sweet smile at her man. “Any more and we will have a very serious talk with him back home about that pesky habit.”
“And I’d rather not find out what she means by that,” Daniel admitted with a weak smile, then showed a genuine look towards Sheal as she tried to lower her head, with Daniel lifting her gaze back up by the chin to face him again.
“But I want you to hear my honest opinion about you. After all the stories I’ve heard about salamander women in Eden, after researching their violent ways that they believe is their only way of living in this world, after recounting all the terrible tales that have been spoken about them, I have to say you’ve opened my mind about your race in a very positive way.”
“I have?” Sheal faintly asked.
“You’ve shown more heart and decency in your actions than what is ever conveyed in encounters with your kind. You have a sense of honor, compassion, and hope for a peaceful future. And I want to say this as objectively as possible so as not to upset my mates, but I want to be forthright when I tell you. You look nothing like a dangerous monster or lecherous fiend of fire, you’ve only shown a reserved side of yourself in our presence, and that’s allowed your true charm to shine through.”
“My… true charm?”
“Who here thinks this salamander looks cute?” Daniel asked aloud with a smirk. Sheal stared at him in surprise then looked around at seeing all the elves and Alyssa raising their hands with approving looks at her. “I don’t even have to turn around to see they feel the same way I do. Everyone can easily see it with you. When you’re not burning everything around you in a chaotic fashion or subjecting men to a forceful rape in order to breed, you look very charming, Sheal. Both on the inside and out.”
“Wha- wha- what?” Sheal squealed as she quickly backed up, blushing brighter than ever now. “I look charming? Wha- wha- what are you saying, master?”
“You keep thinking humans are only going to see a terrifying monster with you,” Daniel explained shaking his head. “That we’re only going to see the damage you can do to others and nothing else. But when you’re not harming others and treating them like toys, when you’re not causing fires simply for fun, you can be quite attractive in your own right.”
“You think… I’m attractive?” Sheal breathed out, gently holding a hand to her cheek.
“He’s saying your race can be attractive,” Alyssa firmly clarified, hopping over and quickly holding onto Daniel’s arm. “He’s saying men could willingly choose to be with you, to mate with you, if only you treated them better. He also stated pretty clearly that he’s not on the market anymore, so please don’t misconstrue what he’s telling you right now. Do you understand?”
“You really think I’m attractive in your eyes, master?” Sheal timidly asked Daniel.
“Goddammit, now I’m going to have to kill her, Daniel,” Alyssa whined up at her man who only continued to smile at Sheal. “I know that look in her eyes, I’ve seen it before with the others when you did this with them. Our only option now is to put her down before this grows into a bigger problem.”
Daniel shook his head as he gently removed his arm from Alyssa’s hold, watching as Sheal was indeed gazing at him with a familiar look of adoration that he had seen time and again in the eyes of his mates upon first meeting them.
“We all do, Sheal,” he honestly told her. “Now, as I’ve stated earlier and Alyssa has so keenly reminded you, I’m not available to show you firsthand that a man can become your mate out of respect and not fear. However, just as I’ve promised the elves around us, you and your kind can find mates among humans as well as friends and allies to support you. You need only to treat them as equals with compassion and understanding, and then it can and will be returned to you.”
“But… but-”
“No buts, Sheal,” Daniel interjected, gently shaking a finger at her. “I’ve said it from the start with my mates and I’ll continue to say it as many times as need be. If a woman, human or otherwise, is kindhearted and loves a man for who they are, stands by him as a partner and friend, than that man may choose them to be his mate. I’ve held the same belief from the start of my journey, and I’ve proven it time and again. I have many mates who are not human, Sheal, but they proved their love to me and in turn earned mine.”
“How? How did they do that?”
“They controlled their inner nature,” Daniel said, looking down at Alyssa with admiration as the little witch giggled and hugged him. “They didn’t treat me like I was breeding tool, or an inferior being. They were kind, honest, and trustworthy with me. They kept their lustful nature in check and didn’t
let it control them, and in turn I saw them for how they truly are. Beautiful, charming, and all women who I would gladly fight to keep in my life as my loved ones.”
“I love you too, Daniel,” Alyssa vowed as she held him close. “So, so much.”
“If I was capable of throwing up, I would right now,” Felucia scoffed with a roll of her eyes.
“And that answers the question as to why nobody likes you!” Alyssa shouted over at the sand wraith. “Hey, why don’t you tell us how it feels to be hated by everyone? How do sand wraiths like that? Being feared, despised, and considered just as evil as Darker Ones; do you even care about any of that? Because I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of my race being placed in the same ranks as you in that regard!”
“At least sand wraiths have full-grown bodies,” Felucia sneered at Alyssa while pressing her breasts together to make them bounce, much to the witch’s ire. “I hardly consider us in the same rank, little brat.”
“You’re right, Felucia,” Daniel remarked. “You’re not in Alyssa’s rank at all in my eyes; you’re quite below it in fact. I’ll admit your outer appearance is attractive, but that means very little when the inside is rather rotten. Alyssa’s charm doesn’t just come from her looks, it comes from her soul as well, and hers shines much brighter than yours does by a longshot.”
“Oh please, you’re the one that’s full of shit,” Felucia snapped. “You’re really saying you’d rather have her little body in bed than mine?”
“I’d rather have her body and soul in bed,” Daniel countered, turning to give her a stern look while Alyssa held onto his arm and stuck her tongue out at the sand wraith. “Alyssa is a wonderful woman, inside and out, and that’s what counts with choosing one’s mate for a man. Your daughter Cindy shares that light; she is a kind and loving person, and her being a sand wraith doesn’t detract from that in the slightest. You could learn much from her.”
Felucia sneered at him while the elves and Sheal were looking at Daniel curiously from his words.
“And that’s something I want to teach the elves, to teach Sheal and her kind, and to teach as many races in this world as I can. What’s on the outside isn’t important; it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Acting rude, malicious, destructive, and downright cruel is what labels you as a monster in the eyes of humans. I don’t know if you even care that you’re alone in the world like you are right now, Felucia, but I don’t want Cindy to be. I don’t want any of these women and children around us to be alone, hated, or threatened simply because of how they were born. And I’m going to make sure they won’t be.”
“Yeah, like hell you will,” Felucia snidely laughed. “And just how are you going to make that fantasy tale come true?”
“By making my voice heard,” Daniel firmly told her. “By showing everyone a better path to take for all of us. And if need be, fighting however I have to in order to make that dream come true.”
“It’s you against the world, boy,” Felucia bitterly argued. “What chance do you think you have against that?”
“Odds are getting better every day,” Daniel quipped with a smirk, earning a confused look from the wraith. “I started this journey with only one person in the whole world believing I had a chance. Ask me now how many believe in my dream. Or if you prefer, simply turn your head.”
Felucia blinked then slowly looked around, seeing the surrounding elves all grinning at her while Alyssa had a smug smirk on her face. From behind Daniel and the witch Sheal slowly walked up beside him, the salamander having her hands held together near her skirt with her head lowered in respect of her master. Her eyes timidly watched as Daniel glanced to her with a wink, the woman then slowly showing a smile before seeing Felucia shaking her head at the man. Before the sand wraith could speak again, however, Sheal raised her voice first.
“Don’t argue with your master,” she sharply scolded. “It’s not in your place to do so.”
“My place?” Felucia demanded. “What the fuck do you mean by-”
Sheal bared her teeth with cinders and smoke coming out from behind them, halting Felucia instantly as the wraith showed a nervous look to her now.
“If you’re going to be his maid, you need to obey and respect your master,” Sheal ordered. “I don’t honestly think you care about your people, but I care about mine. I don’t want them to suffer or become monsters in order to survive. I’m sick of them being known as horrible demons in this world, and I’ll do anything to help them have better lives. I’m tired of how things are for us and I want that to change, and I trust my master can bring about that change. I trust his family can do that. They’ve earned that trust from me.”
“But-”
“Bite your tongue,” Sheal warned with a hiss. “Or else I’ll burn it out of your mouth. My master wishes for me and my kind to behave and show our hidden charm to the world, and I will sincerely strive to do so to the best of my ability. However if you continue to mock our master and treat him with disrespect I’ll remind you why your kind fears mine!”
Felucia growled through bared teeth as she reluctantly stowed her tongue and choice words for the salamander woman, the wraith then averting eye contact with everyone as she muttered to herself.
“I think it’s a mistake having her stay with us,” Alyssa complained, hugging Daniel’s arm tighter now.
“I don’t think so, Alyssa,” Daniel remarked. The witch and Sheal turned to him curiously while he watched the elder sand wraith quietly stewing over everything that was happening to her. He saw that even with her alluring figure and cute outfit on, any charming qualities she had were greatly overshadowed by her foul attitude and general outlook on the world. Her breasts were big, but her uncaring mouth proved to be bigger. Her hips and legs were eye-catching, but she would sooner poke out someone’s eyes than treat them with any shred of respect. And her feisty behavior was no match for the fiercer bite of her scowling glare that would kill the mood almost instantly.
However, this was all something that brought a daring smile to Daniel’s face as he saw having her around was indeed a good thing after all.
“If I can sway someone so ferociously opposed to my beliefs as she is, then that only proves we have a great chance at succeeding with our quest. If I can win her over, I think I can win over anyone.”
*****
Flying through the night sky Kitten swiftly soared against the backdrop of twinkling stars while bathed in moonlight, the cambion’s eyes firmly fixated before her as she made haste towards the city of Stonegate. In her arms was Star, the jinx unconscious with white goo and black seeds dripping out of her mouth and running down her thighs. Her belly had slowly retracted to normal during the flight, evidenced by plenty of fluugher seeds pouring out of her and raining down onto the land below in the flying cambion’s wake. However it was no question to Kitten and Triska if all of the seeds were coming out, as they knew very well plenty more still resided in the jinx’s body, and it would only take one rooting itself into her innards to spell certain doom for the unlucky cat.
After crossing a great span of The Outerlands with silence remaining strong between she and her worried counterpart, Kitten came to a stop in her flight as she passed over a winding hillside at the edge of a lush woodland. Before her she beheld the sight of the infamous monster city that many in Koskaysil would typically avoid at all costs if they could. The expansive settlement lay stretched out before her, easily being twice the size of Ashwood and enclosed in a much greater, more sinister looking stone wall with gothic ramparts lining the high standing barriers. Behind the sprawling monster city was a towering mountain that the walls led into on either side of the community, with jagged crags rising up along Eden’s projection as if hell itself had thrusted the mighty peak up from out of the land. A foul stench was in the air, likely coming from the many chimneys and smoke pipes of the buildings while a hazy cloud hovered over the area and rested just above the tallest spires that stood erect over the ominous municipality.
“Stonegate,” Kitten cautiously remarked.
“My god,” Triska said in her mind. “Even Darker Ones don’t exude such an overwhelming aura of malevolence as that place does. I can feel it even from inside your mind.”
“Alright then,” Kitten remarked, looking over Star with a solemn expression. “Let’s go see this Doc person and see if she’s as good as Calam swears she is. If it’s alright with you, Triska, I’d prefer to speak to the revered doctor myself, just in case things happen differently than what Calam promised.”
“If Calam was lying and we’ve killed Star by bringing her here, you can let loose your anger on the city. Calam will belong to me.”
“Deal,” Kitten coldly swore. Looking down she narrowed her eyes at something, the cambion then flapping her wings hard and taking off down towards one of the massive gates leading into the city. She swooped low and soared across long stretches of barren fields that lay stretched out between the monster settlement and the nearby wilderness. Closing in on the large stone gates that had skulls carved into them with steel brackets baring rusty spikes holding them in place, Kitten slowed down with her flight before softly touching down on the ground a few yards away from the entrance, her wings arching behind her as she held Star close for protection. Not from the ghastly aura the city easily exuded all around it from the countless, unknown monsters living within its walls, but because Kitten was looking at the guards of Stonegate who were watching her very closely from either side of the large entryway.
Standing nearly as tall as the walls themselves were two monsters, though their massive height was equaled by their extremely long tails, as these two women appeared to be nagas only incredibly larger versions of the snake women. Their long violet and green scaled tails were coiled up behind them, while their fluttering dark green skirts and tight gray corsets complimented their human halves along with their breasts that boasted such size and bounciness that they would surely send Pip into a comatose state of delight upon seeing. Dark fingernails were seen that matched the black chokers they wore and their long raven hair which flowed all the way down to their wide hips. One of the monstrous women had pink eyes, the other dark blue, all of which were staring intently at Kitten while the women hissed with fangs seen in their mouths.
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act II Page 16