Kupa was tied down,she looks to Grayson and shakes her head. He ignores the warning and assists her. "You need to go. NOW." Kupa whispers as she shoves him out of the door. "Run away. FAR away. We've been spied..!For now she cant know we convened. If she knows we talked,we'll ALL be a beacon for Gladya-" Kupa said quietly,pushing Grayson out as she shut the door-
"Grayyson!! I thought I told you to stay still!!" Serene said in a singsongy manner,her voice carrying a more lethal aftertone..
"Shit." He mutters quietly,making for a bedroom.
He opens the door and closes it quietly..to find it deathly dark...
A stagnant smell lingered...
The fireplace lights up,shedding orange light onto the room. On the wall surrounding the fireplace were hunting trophies,but one was unfilled...
It was labelled "Man".
"Like my trophy room? I built it myself." Serene said with a hint of pride.
"I-it's nice...But this placard...over the fireplace..?"
"That's your spot when Gladya is finished with you. Not like I'll leave her much...~ So I'll make it really easy for you. Give up,let Gladya's guard take you and I'll release your friends." She purrs.
"Is everyone here some kind of villainously deranged lunatic if they even so much as utter that woman's name?' Grayson asked,a sour tone lacing his voice.
Under the low light he could now see a glowing purple scar running the length of her arm...
"Join us...~ Rule this world like a real king." She purrs,as she draws a dark green dagger..
"No. It's not kinghood. Its slave driving. You'll have to kill me first." Grayson growls,as he grabs a decorative dagger.
"A real fight...~ Ohh this is going to be FUN!!" Serene roars as she charged the male,with unrealistically powerful speed. Grayson dodged a few slashes,attempting to get away. He slides under a slash and makes for Alex's room down the hall,right next to the staircase.
'Damn it,WHY cant i spend at least ONE damn week in a place without someone hunting me?' He mutters as he rams through Alex's door and immediately close it behind himself. He turns as the door started emitting knocking and banging sounds..
He looks at Alex's bed,which was empty,a hole in the wall of her room from the outside made for a worse impact...
He didn't have much time,and so he uses the hole to shimmy back to his room and quietly collect his armor and backpack.
'I can't just leave Kupa.." He softly mutters,as he tightens his armor into place and make sure his sword was at ease of draw.
"Come here,boy.~ I promise it wont hurt to give iin!" She purrs softly,playing with the blade she owned. Serene passes into his view..
"Hunting you down is so much fun..~" She purrs as Grayson discreetly crossed the hall and into Kupa's room again..
"grayson? the hell are you doing here? i told you to run.' Kupa whispers,as she approached him.
'no man or woman left behind. alex is gone. are you gonna run with me or do you have a better plan?' Grayson whispers back..
'no. But i doubt that miss crazy eyes is gonna let us waltz out the front door.' Kupa mutters softly. Grayson signals to the window,and she nods softly in confirmation...
"Yeesh that's a long fall.." Grayson said with a gentle shiver. "Not for me!" Kupa said,as she sits in the windowsill,tipping backwards and falling out of the window. A low thump was heard,and Kupa gave a thumbs up,signing for Grayson to jump as well. The bedroom door rattles...
Grayson slowly climbs out of the window,and jumps,to be caught by a huffing and puffing Kupa. The heroic moment wouldn't last long,and so they fled the area as quickly as could be managed.
By the time Serene had gotten into the room,she was accompanied by the draconian being. "Why have you spouted lies to our queen?" They asked in a deep,distinctly female rumble. "I-im sorry he got away-"
"LETTING HIM GET AWAY HAS JEOPARDIZED GLADYA'S PLANS YOU IDIOT!! If she finds out that the boy isnt in her trap,We both have dues to pay.." The being said.
"So what should we do..?" Serene asked.
"We track him down until there is nowhere left on the world for him to hide. Overturn every last house we can find. We CANNOT afford to anger the Queen any more than she already is. The Scars will prevail and maintain their promise."
"What promise?" Gladya asked,making both of them go almost ghost white. "I see you both have failed and now must pay for losing the boy. So who is taking the fall?" She asked.
Serene turns and steps forward.
"Ahhh....~ Lovely,lovely Serene...Such a mischievous soul...Teaching the boy behind my back must have been quite the hit of freedom for you..." Gladya purrs as she drags a finger along her chin.
"And then LOSING him by leaving him alone to his own devices.." She chuckles,the finger turning to a claw and dragging slightly deeper.
"M-m'liege plea-"
"SHHHH....shhhhh....~ Everything is going to be ookay...~ Im not gonna kill you.~ However I WILL hurt you...Corrupt you,perhaps turn you to a drone for such disobedience. But I'm nice. Verrry nice...So nice in fact...that ill only leave a SCAR!!" She roars,slashing open Serene's cheek,though it did not bleed,it still burned as if someone had salted the wound,and it brought fourth bone chilling screams of pain as her skin darkens into a blackened color.
Before too long the pain resided..
"Get up,whelp." Gladya commands of Serene.
Slowly and shakily she got up.
"You are very fortunate to have survived 2 scars...dont make a third one,or that lovely soul,alongside your family's,male and otherwise will belong alll to me..~" She purrs gently,leaning to one of her ears.
"Use your new powers. Find the boy. Do NOT defy me again." She purrs.
Serene nods obediently as her irises began to glow purple. She disappears.
(Ahead of the chase)
Grayson and Kupa had already put a lot of disance between themselves and the house in tbe short time they had run. Thunder rumbles softly overhead,forcing them to change path,and settle for the mouth of a cave.
Grayson sets his bag down with a soft huff,letting his head rest on top.
"You good,buddy?" She asked softly,massaging his shoulders. "Not really...honestly it's pretty rough getting chased around and threatened to slaughter..." Grayson replies,a slight dark tone...
Memories of home finally faded in...
'Mom...Dad....My sister...' He thought...
Tears began to flow out of his eyes...
"Hey...Hey its okay..C'mere big guy." Kupa soothed,pulling him into her lap. "You're all right. I promise you will be." She said,gently petting him as he began to sniffle and gently whine into her hoodie.
"All right buddy...Thats it let it out. You'll feel much better after this." She encourages.
A long road laid ahead....
And Grayson must not let his belated home sickness get the best of him.